The Karkardooma Court has acquitted nine individuals, including Shah Alam, brother of Tahir Hussain, who were accused in connection with rioting, causing injuries, and related offences during the North East Delhi riots.
The court granted the accused the benefit of doubt in the case arising from an FIR registered at Dayal Pur Police Station in 2020.
Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh acquitted Shah Alam, Rashid Saifi, Mohd. Shadab, Habib, Irfan, Suhail, Salim alias Ashu, Irshad, and Azhar alias Sonu of all charges on March 30.
“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 the benefit of doubt. All the accused are accordingly acquitted of the charges framed against them,” the judge stated.
The case involved allegations of vandalism to a car, injuries caused to passengers, burning of a motorcycle, vandalism of a cart, and other offences. The judge noted inconsistencies concerning the dates of incidents and witness statements.
The court observed that the prosecution’s case rested solely on three witnesses; Naresh, Constable Gyan, and Head Constable Sunil. It found their testimonies to be general, lacking specificity, and containing falsehoods regarding the locations and dates of incidents, including the Innova Crysta car and Royal Motors shop.
The FIR originated from a complaint by Vivek Pathak, who alleged that during the riots on February 24, 2020, while travelling in an Innova Crysta from Ghaziabad to Faridabad, their vehicle was surrounded and vandalised at Chand Bagh resulting in injuries to him, Pawan Tiwari, and others. Investigations incorporated additional complaints from SI Mumtaz Ali, who reported his motorcycle was burnt at the protest site, and Salim Ahmed, whose shop Royal Motors in Chand Bagh was reportedly destroyed by fire.
Further, complaints from Radha Rani, Rajjo (unproven on record), and Mohd. Ishraq were also combined with the FIR during the course of investigation.