2020 Delhi riots | Four acquitted of rioting, arson, theft charges

A Delhi periods court docket on February 25 acquitted 4 males in a case of rioting, arson and vandalism in the course of the 2020 Delhi riots. Image for representational function solely.
| Photo Credit: PTI

A court docket in New Delhi has acquitted 4 males in a case of rioting, vandalism, arson and theft by a mob at Bhagirathi Vihar in the course of the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, saying the accused had been entitled to the profit of doubt.

The court docket was listening to a case in opposition to Dinesh Yadav, Sahil, Sandeep and Tinku, accused of being half of a riotous mob that was concerned in looting and arson in some retailers on February 25, 2020.

“I find that charges levelled against the accused persons, in this case, are not proved beyond doubt. Hence, accused persons… are acquitted of all the charges levelled against them in this case,” Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala stated in an order handed earlier this week.

The choose stated the formation of illegal meeting, rioting and vandalism in two retailers was “well established” however although each the retailers had been vandalised, they weren’t set ablaze.

The court docket stated seven prosecution witnesses couldn’t determine any rioters by look or identify as they didn’t see their faces, a lot much less the folks concerned within the incidents.

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It stated the testimonies of two police officers had been “not reliable” to ascertain that each one the accused individuals had been members of the riotous mob.

“Prosecution did not prove any record of such vital information being given by these two witnesses in the police station, though ideally it should have been at least recorded in writing. Accused persons were arrested much later in time and statements of these witnesses were also recorded after a long delay.

“I discover that accused individuals herein are entitled to learn of the doubt within the current case,” the court docket stated.

Gokalpuri police station had filed a chargesheet in opposition to the accused males for a number of offences, together with rioting, theft in dwelling home and mischief by fireplace or explosive substance with the intent to destroy home, beneath the Indian Penal Code.