A court has acquitted nine men in a case related to the Delhi riots 2020, which claimed the lives of 54 individuals, severely injured many, and caused widespread damage to properties. The decision comes as the court observed that the testimonies cannot be relied upon in the case as they were general in nature. These accused were arrested allegedly for involvement in vandalism, arson, and looting in the Chand Bagh area.
Additional sessions judge Parveen Singh heard the case against Shah Alam, Rashid Saifi, Mohammad Shadab, Habib, Irfan, Suhail, Salim alias Ashu, Irshad, and Azhar alias Sonu.
These accused were arrested in the case lodged at Dayalpur police station in connection with damaging an Innova Crysta car, setting a motorcycle ablaze, looting street vendors’ carts, and arson of a shop named Royal Motors during riots.
The judge noted that the statements provided by the witnesses were inconsistent with the actual location and timing of the incidents.
“Testimonies are general in nature and lack specificity, especially in view of the fact that these witnesses have deposed falsely with regard to the place of incident…I find that it will be unsafe to rely upon the testimonies of these witnesses to convict the accused,” the court said.
“The witness was so categorical and insistent about the fact that a wrong date of incident had been projected by the police that he had approached the DCP of the area and gave a representation that IO had wrongly recorded the date of incident,” the judge said.
The court remarked that the location and time identified by the passenger completely contradicted the police’s site plan and the testimonies of police witnesses.
“The testimonies of Constable Gyan Singh and Head Constable Sunil with regard to this incident are completely found to be false,” the judge said.
Based on the contradictions on details like time and place, the court said that the testimonies could not be relied upon for other allegations in the case.
“I find that it will be unsafe to rely upon the testimonies of these witnesses to convict the accused. I accordingly find that the accused are entitled to a benefit of doubt,” the court said.Delhi Court Acquits 9 Muslims In 2020 Riots
