A court in the National Capital on Tuesday ordered the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) and an ongoing investigation into Delhi Law and Justice Minister, and BJP leader, Kapil Mishra, in connection with his alleged involvement in the 2020 riots in the city’s northeastern region, The Indian Express Reports.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia granted the request of Mohammad Ilyas, a resident of Yamuna Vihar, to file an FIR against Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra, the then Station House Officer (SHO) of Dayalpur police station, and five others, including BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht and former BJP legislator Jagdish Pradhan. In his ruling, the judge observed that a cognizable offence was established against Mishra.
In February 2020, communal violence erupted in Northeast Delhi from February 23 to 26, resulting in the deaths of 53 people, more than 500 injuries, and extensive property damage running into crores.
In February of this year, the Delhi Police had contested the complainant’s plea, arguing that Kapil Mishra was being “framed” and had no involvement in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots.
Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad informed the court that Kapil Mishra’s involvement had already been examined in relation to the broader conspiracy behind the riots, and no incriminating evidence had been found against him.
In his complaint, Ilyas, represented by lawyer Mehmood Pracha, stated that he witnessed Kapil Mishra and others blocking a road in Kardampuri, Northeast Delhi, and vandalizing vendors’ carts. He further claimed that the then Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) for Northeast Delhi was present alongside Mishra and other police officials, warning protesters to vacate the area or face repercussions.
The complainant also alleged that he saw the then Dayalpur SHO, along with BJP leaders Pradhan and Bisht, participating in the vandalism of mosques across Northeast Delhi.
In March, a magistrate court announced it would begin hearing arguments on the charges against Kapil Mishra in connection with another case filed under the Representation of the People Act (RPA). The case accuses him of inciting communal enmity during the 2020 Delhi Assembly Elections held in February.
