Charges not proved beyond reasonable doubt, six acquitted in riots case

New Delhi: Acquitting six people in a 2020 Delhi riots case, a city court stated that allegations against them were not proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The court raised doubts over the testimony of two key police witnesses, who were examined nearly 10 months after the riots.The case was registered at the Gokalpuri police station. The prosecution claimed that the six accused—Arjun, Gopal, Dharamveer, Umesh, Dheeraj and Manish—were part of a riotous mob that committed arson and theft across various properties and shops in Gokalpuri on Feb 25, 2020.The court of additional sessions judge Pulastya Pramachala, in an order dated Jan 24, stated that the prosecution relied upon two key witnesses, assistant sub-inspectors Vanvir and Jahangir, to establish the identity of the accused persons as part of the riotous mob. Observing that these witnesses were examined in Dec 2020, the court said, "This delay in examining these two officers, who were posted in the same police station, certainly casts doubt over the veracity of the prosecution's case.""The investigating officer did not tender any reason for such delay in recording the statement of these witnesses," it added.Further noting the statements of both the sub-inspectors about being the beat officers of the locality and that they knew the accused persons, the court said, "If they knew the names of the accused persons and if they saw these persons in the mob of rioters, then there was no need and occasion for them to identify the accused persons in any video."Their testimonies, however, referred to identifying accused persons in a video, which Vanvir said, did not pertain to the incidents, the court added. It also stated that Jahangir could not identify three accused in the court. New Delhi: Acquitting six people in a 2020 Delhi riots case, a city court stated that allegations against them were not proved beyond a reasonable doubt. The court raised doubts over the testimony of two key police witnesses, who were examined nearly 10 months after the riots.The case was registered at the Gokalpuri police station. The prosecution claimed that the six accused—Arjun, Gopal, Dharamveer, Umesh, Dheeraj and Manish—were part of a riotous mob that committed arson and theft across various properties and shops in Gokalpuri on Feb 25, 2020.The court of additional sessions judge Pulastya Pramachala, in an order dated Jan 24, stated that the prosecution relied upon two key witnesses, assistant sub-inspectors Vanvir and Jahangir, to establish the identity of the accused persons as part of the riotous mob. Observing that these witnesses were examined in Dec 2020, the court said, "This delay in examining these two officers, who were posted in the same police station, certainly casts doubt over the veracity of the prosecution's case.""The investigating officer did not tender any reason for such delay in recording the statement of these witnesses," it added.Further noting the statements of both the sub-inspectors about being the beat officers of the locality and that they knew the accused persons, the court said, "If they knew the names of the accused persons and if they saw these persons in the mob of rioters, then there was no need and occasion for them to identify the accused persons in any video."Their testimonies, however, referred to identifying accused persons in a video, which Vanvir said, did not pertain to the incidents, the court added. It also stated that Jahangir could not identify three accused in the court.