In a major development related to the 2020 riots in northeast Delhi, a court in Delhi has acquitted six Muslims who had been charged with looting and arson.
The accused named as Gulzar, Shehzad, Wajid, Sajid, Shehbaaz and Saleem were cleared after the court found that the prosecution failed to produce credible evidence against them.
The judgment, handed down by the Karkardooma Court, stated that the charges against the six men “were not proved at all.” Accordingly, the court ordered their “honourable acquittal” with no conditions attached.
For the families of the acquitted, the verdict brought relief after five years of uncertainty and legal battle. They expressed gratitude to the legal team appointed by Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind under the leadership of Maulana Mahmood Madani, who took up their case and supported them through prolonged court proceedings.
Human-rights observers and legal analysts point out that many such acquittals highlight common problems like unreliable witness testimony, flawed police investigations, inconclusive video or call-record evidence, and lack of credible linkage of accused individuals to specific riot incidents.
This verdict is being seen as a significant step toward justice for those wrongly prosecuted in the aftermath of the 2020 violence.
Advocates argue that the pressure of long trials, uncertain bail, social stigma and economic hardship make such acquittals essential not just for the individuals involved, but for the credibility of the justice system itself.
This story was originally published in muslimmirror.com. Read the full story here.
