2020 Delhi riots: Court frames charges against 49 for rioting, arson

New Delhi: The Karkardooma Court on Monday framed charges against 49 accused for rioting and arson at a car showroom on the main Wazirabad Road during the riots in North-East Delhi on February 24, 2020. The mob had damaged the Fair Deal Maruti showroom, set it on fire along with some vehicles, besides breaking window panes of cars.

Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala directed the trial to begin in November. The court also acquitted a person named Mohammad Aftab of all charges due to lack of concrete evidence against him. The court said, “Since the investigation of this case has not found any concrete evidence of the identity of the accused Mohammad Aftab in the crowd behind the incident, he is discharged.”

One of the accused in the case, Suleman Siddiqui alias Salman, is absconding. The Delhi Police had filed a charge sheet against a total of 51 accused in the case, and the court found them liable to be tried for offenses punishable under various sections of the IPC for rioting, etc. ASJ Pramachala said: “I find that there is a prima facie case against all the accused persons. They should be tried accordingly.”

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“In view of the complaint and statement made by Vikas and other employees of Fair Deal Car Showroom, it is prima facie clear that the accused persons trespassed into the house to commit an offense punishable with imprisonment for life, which constitutes an offense punishable under Section 450 of the IPC.”

He further added, “Prima facie the evidence on record shows that the accused persons were part of the unlawful assembly, who were present at the spot and who had come into action with the common object of causing vandalism and causing damage to the properties. In pursuance of that common object, they set fire to the Fair Deal Showroom.”

The court said that it is clear that each of the accused has been identified by some or the other eyewitness.