North-East Delhi Riots: Court frames charges against 57 accused of rioting, burning property

New Delhi [India], April 22 (ANI): Delhi's Karkardooma Court has framed charges against 57 accused of rioting, burning vehicles, unlawful assembly, causing hurt, etc., during the North East Delhi Riots in February 2020.
An FIR was registered at the Police Station Dayal Pur in this case.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Pulastya Pramachala framed charges against the accused for the above-mentioned offences after hearing submissions on the point of framing of charges.
"I find that a prima facie case for offence punishable under section 148, 435, 436, 323, 341 IPC read with Section 149 IPC as well as under section. 188 IPC, against all the accused persons. All the accused persons are liable to be tried accordingly. Ordered accordingly," ASJ Pramachala ordered on April 15.
An FIR was registered on March 3, 2020, at PS Dayalpur, pursuant to Ashish Tiwari's written complaint dated March 1, 2020.
He had alleged that he was working in Charted Logistics and that his company's vehicle was loaded on February 22, 2020, at Sitarganj.
This vehicle was unloaded at Main Road, Chand Bagh Road, on the premises belonging to Harpreet Singh, on February 24, 2020, at around 11 AM.
Soon after this vehicle was unloaded, riots began, and he further alleged that rioters set ablaze his company's vehicle in the incident.
Another complaint was filed by Shankar Kumar, who alleged that he was a resident of Munga Nagar, Karawal Nagar, Delhi.
On February 24, 2020, in his complaint, Kumar stated that he left his house for his work on his scooty. When he reached near Chand Bagh, he saw a mob of rioters arriving while assaulting and looting the people.
It was further alleged that due to fear and to save his life, he left his scooty there on the road and ran away. Later on, when he came back to that place to take his scooty, he did not find his scooty there.
This complaint was clubbed with this FIR, on the grounds of proximity of date, time and place of the incident.
The third complaint was given by Shahzada, who alleged that he owned a godown of sugarcane in Chand Bagh, Main Wazirabad Road. He alleged that on February 24, 2020, due to fire, his office in the godown was completely burnt.
Some necessary documents, two hand carts, sugar canes, and his old motorcycle were turned into ash in this incident. Additionally, his tractor was also burned in this incident. This complaint was also clubbed with this FIR on the grounds of the proximity of the date, time, and place of the incident.
The main chargesheet, along with the complaint under section 195 Cr. p.c. and other documents, was filed before the Karkardooma Court on February 18, 2022.
This chargesheet was filed against the above-mentioned 57 accused persons for offences under section 147, 148, 149, 427, 435, 436, 188, 323, 341, 120B/34 IPC.
On February 23, 2023, the first supplementary chargesheet, along with FSL reports and other documents, was filed directly before the session court.
Subsequently, on October 15, 2024, the second supplementary chargesheet, along with the FSL result and other documents, was filed directly before the session court.
Accused persons were identified from the CCTV footage collected by the police.
A calendar of evidence was filed by the prosecution.
Special Public Prosecutor Madhukar Pandey appeared for the Delhi police and submitted that all the accused persons have been identified by the witnesses.
It was further submitted that all the accused persons were present in the mob at the relevant time with a common object to indulge in vandalism and arson, which resulted in setting fire to the godown.
He further submitted that the presence of accused persons is also shown through the CDR (Call Detail Record) of their mobile phones. (ANI)