By Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The Karkardooma court in the national capital has acquitted three men in a case related to the 2020 Delhi riots, saying the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Devendra, Gautam and Anmol were arrested on allegations of arson, looting and rioting during the anti-Muslim violence that broke out in North-East Delhi in February 2020.
Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh, while delivering the order earlier this week, said there was no solid evidence to establish the guilt of the accused. “I find that there is no concrete evidence to prove the offence against the accused. The benefit of doubt goes to the accused and all are acquitted of the charges framed against them,” the court observed.
The case related to incidents that allegedly took place on 25 February 2020 in the Sonia Vihar police station area, particularly around Milan Garden and nearby localities. The prosecution had claimed that the three accused were part of a mob involved in communal violence.
During the riots, several areas of North-East Delhi witnessed clashes, arson and damage to property. Police had registered multiple cases in connection with the incidents.
However, in this particular case, the court found that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to directly link the three men to the alleged offences.
A key part of the prosecution’s case was CCTV footage said to have been obtained from the Public Works Department (PWD). The footage was presented as evidence to show the presence of the accused at the scene.
During the hearing, the court noted that the case was largely based on this video material. The judge said the footage could not be legally accepted as admissible evidence in its current form.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
