Delhi Court Acquits Three in 2020 Riots Case Over Contradictory Evidence

A Delhi court has acquitted three men accused in a case linked to the 2020 North East Delhi riots , observing that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt and questioning the reliability of its key witness. The judgment has once again brought focus on the quality of investigation in several riot-related cases that emerged from one of the most violent episodes in the national capital’s recent history.

Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh acquitted Vinay , Rahul , and Sourabh Sharma in connection with an alleged assault and robbery incident that took place in the Karawal Nagar area during the riots in February 2020. In its May 22 order, the court said that prosecution witness ASI Pratap Singh was “not found to be a credible witness” and that his testimony contained major contradictions that weakened the prosecution’s case.

According to the prosecution, complainant Hamid Ali alleged that his son, Jafar Zia , was returning home on a motorcycle on February 24, 2020, when a mob of around 20 to 25 rioters attacked him near a Karawal Nagar check post. The attackers allegedly assaulted him with weapons, looted cash and important documents, and damaged his motorcycle amid the communal violence.

The chargesheet claimed that the accused were identified through disclosure statements, recoveries, and CCTV footage collected during the investigation. However, during the trial, the injured witness reportedly failed to identify the accused and told the court that the attackers had covered their faces.

The court highlighted significant inconsistencies between the testimonies of the victim and ASI Pratap Singh. While the victim stated that all assailants had concealed their identities and made no mention of police intervention, the police officer claimed that some attackers were not covering their faces and that he had chased them away from the scene.

The court also noted contradictions regarding the manner in which the accused were identified during the investigation. Holding that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt, the judge acquitted all three accused of the charges framed against them.

Although the case is not directly linked to the larger UAPA conspiracy case involving Umar Khalid , both matters stem from the broader investigation into the 2020 Delhi riots, which claimed 53 lives and left hundreds injured. The acquittal is likely to intensify debate over investigative standards and evidentiary gaps in several riot-related prosecutions.