A Delhi court has acquitted five individuals accused in a significant arson and rioting case linked to the deadly 2020 Northeast Delhi riots, delivering a sharp critique of the police investigation. The court pointed to unreliable testimonies from key witnesses and a "mechanical" probe that failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Court Exposes Critical Lapses in Police Testimony
Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh of the Karkardooma Court, in an order dated December 11, found the statements of two police witnesses to be unreliable. The case pertained to incidents of stone-pelting and arson near the Bhajanpura petrol pump, where complainant Tarun was allegedly beaten and his motorcycle set ablaze.
The judge noted a major contradiction in the timeline provided by the police witnesses. While they claimed to have received a call at 1 pm to go to the petrol pump, the police station's daily entry showed their departure time was also recorded as 1 pm, after they had already left for another location. "...they could not have received a call at the same time to reach Bhajanpura petrol pump," the judge observed, undermining their credibility.
Contradictions and a 'Mechanical' Investigation
Further holes were poked in the prosecution's narrative by conflicting accounts about the petrol pump's operations. An employee testified the pump was closed by 12:30 pm on the day of the violence. However, the complainant, Tarun, stated he had gone there at 2 pm to get fuel. The court found this to be "an impossibility," casting doubt on the sequence of events.
Judge Singh explicitly highlighted the probability of a "mechanical" investigation aimed merely at solving the case. He noted it was "strange" that the investigating officer did not ask witnesses about the specific involvement of the accused. The handling of photographic evidence was also flawed. The police claimed to have shown photos of the accused to a witness in May 2021, but a certificate for those photos was dated months later, in November 2021. This discrepancy led the court to believe the witness's claim that he was never shown any photos for identification.
A Pattern of Acquittals in Riots Cases
The five accused – Abdul Sattar, Arif Malik, Khalid, Tanveer, and Hunain – were arrested in different FIRs related to the widespread riots, which resulted in 53 deaths, over 500 injuries, and crores in property damage. This acquittal adds to a growing trend in the legal aftermath of the violence.
Out of the 695 cases registered by police in connection with the riots, a substantial majority of those that have reached a verdict have ended in acquittals. Reports indicate that in over 80% of decided cases, the courts have either acquitted the accused or flagged serious issues with the evidence presented by the prosecution.
This case underscores the critical importance of robust, procedurally sound investigations, especially in communally sensitive matters with severe legal consequences. The court's order reinforces that convictions cannot be secured on the basis of inconsistent testimonies and investigatory shortcuts.
