Delhi court acquits 10 accused in 2020 riots case, citing benefit of doubt
- In Reports
- 04:11 PM, Sep 13, 2024
- Myind Staff
A Delhi court has acquitted 10 individuals accused in a 2020 riots case, granting them the benefit of the doubt. The case, which was tied to an FIR registered at Gokulpuri during the 2020 Delhi riots, was heard in Karkardooma Court.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Pulastya Pramachala, who presided over the case, acquitted the accused, namely Mohammed Shahnawaz alias Shanu, Mohd. Shoaib alias Chhutwa, Shahrukh, Rashid alias Raja, Azad, Ashraf Ali, Parvej, Md. Faisal, Rashid alias Monu, and Mohammed Tahir.
"I find that charges levelled against all the accused persons in this case are not proved beyond reasonable doubt. Hence, accused Mohammed Shahnawaz alias Shanu, Mohd. Shoaib alias Chhutwa, Shahrukh, Rashid alias Raja, Azad, Ashraf Ali, Parvej, Md. Faisal, Rashid alias Monu, and Mohammed Tahir are given benefit of doubt and they are acquitted of all the charges levelled against them in this case," ASJ Pramachala stated in the order passed on September 12.
The police had charge-sheeted these individuals under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 147 (rioting), Section 148 (rioting with deadly weapons), Section 149 (unlawful assembly), Section 436 (mischief by fire), and several others.
According to the prosecution, on March 1, 2020, a written complaint was filed by Narender Kumar at the Gokalpuri police station. Kumar, who resided at C-3/C-2, Chaman Park, Brijpuri Road, Shiv Vihar Tiraha, alleged that on February 24, 2020, around 2:30 PM, nearly 1,500 rioters equipped with deadly weapons arrived from Mustafabad and vandalised a pizza shop that was being run in a hall rented from him.
Kumar further alleged that around 3:45 PM, 50 to 60 rioters entered the upper floors of his house and threatened him and his family, demanding they vacate the property or be burnt alive. The rioters then looted gold, silver jewellery, and ₹2 lakh in cash from his house, set fire to furniture, documents, and even a kitchen cylinder, according to Kumar’s complaint.
Following the investigation, the first charge sheet was filed on July 14, 2020, against the accused before the Duty Magistrate at Karkardooma Courts. A supplementary charge sheet was filed on January 9, 2023, and a second on September 25, 2023. However, in an order dated October 9, 2023, the court concluded that one complaint could not be clubbed with this case, limiting the scope of the supplementary charge sheet to only certain documents and statements.
The court’s decision to acquit the 10 accused brings an end to this particular case, granting them the benefit of the doubt as the prosecution failed to conclusively prove the charges against them.
Image source: ANI
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