Karkardooma Courts in Delhi in their significant ruling have reportedly acquitted ten Muslims who were arrested four years ago by the city police after being allegedly involved in Delhi pogrom 2020.
The court reportedly concluded that the prosecution failed to present before the court enough evidence to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubts.
Charges Faced
The accused were identified as Mohammad Shahnawaz, Mohammad Shoaib, Shahrukh, Ashraf Ali, Rashid, Mohammad Tahir, Mohammad Faisal. The case was reportedly filed after the complaint by Narendra Kumar on 1 March. 2020. In the complaint that was lodged at Gokulpuri Police station, Kumar claimed that a mob destroyed his shop in Shiv Vihar Tiraha. Kumar alleged that 50-60 rioters broke into his house and looted. This case held 17 witnesses and out of whom 12 were police officers
No conclusive evidence
A witness who ran a shop near the scene of the incident, was examined by the prosecution. Former said that his shop remained intact after the riots. However, a head constable and an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) had previously claimed that this witness’s shop was burned.“Both of them claimed that the shop was also burnt by the rioters.
This contradictory stand taken by these two alleged eyewitnesses creates a dent in their credibility,” said Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala of Karkardooma Courts and the Maktoob Media reported.
“I find it unsafe to rely upon the evidence of PW6, PW9 and PW13 (all of whom were police witnesses) to believe that all the accused persons were part of the mob which had attacked upon the property,” the judge said.
According to the organization, the Advocates Saleem Malik and Abdul Ghaffar who were representing seven of the accused under the guidance of Jamiat Ulema e Hindi (Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani) successfully proved that the testimonies of the key witnesses were unreliable.
However, several witnesses either retracted their statements or had reportedly failed to identify the accused.As reported by the Maktoob, Mahmood Madani praised the legal team’s efforts and reiterating Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind’s commitment to defending marginalised communities. “Fair trials and strong legal representation are vital to ensuring justice,” said Madani.
