Delhi Riots: 80% Accused Acquitted – A Report
New Delhi, 26 February – (www.deccanlive.com): A report has come out regarding the Delhi riots, which states that in 120 cases, around 80% of the accused have either been acquitted or their cases have been dismissed.
According to the report published by BBC Hindi journalist Umang Poddar, 126 cases were analyzed, and 758 registered FIRs related to the riots were reviewed.
During this communal violence, 53 people lost their lives, out of which 40 were Muslims. Thousands of people were injured and left homeless. Delhi Police has been accused of either supporting the anti-Muslim violence or staying silent.
Even after five years of investigation, the police have managed to secure convictions in only 20 cases. Surprisingly, in 12 of these cases, the accused themselves confessed to the crime.
In April 2024, Delhi Police submitted a status report in court regarding the progress of riot cases. According to the report:
- 289 cases were still under investigation.
- 296 cases had completed investigation and were being presented in court.
- 173 cases had already been decided.
The courts have also raised concerns about Delhi Police, stating that officers are either not telling the truth or their statements cannot be trusted.
Murder Cases and Court Decisions in Delhi Riots
Out of 758 FIRs, 62 cases were related to murder, and the Crime Branch investigated them. However, only one accused was found guilty, while four were acquitted.
- 39 cases are still under trial in court.
- 15 cases are still under investigation.
The report also revealed that in 94 cases, all accused were acquitted of all charges, while 16 cases were dismissed due to a lack of reliable evidence after police investigation.
After analyzing 106 acquitted cases, two major reasons were found:
- 49% of cases were affected because witnesses changed their statements in court.
- In 66 cases, police officers were the main witnesses, but the court did not trust their statements due to contradictions.
Additionally, the video evidence provided by the police could not be verified, making it unreliable in court.
Serious Flaws in Investigation and Court Observations
In some cases, there were no witnesses or evidence at all. The police investigation and officers’ statements were also questionable.
Additionally, some charge sheets were filed without proper investigation, and people were accused based on preconceived notions rather than solid evidence.
In some cases, the judge observed that new statements were recorded only to cover weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and to justify the charge sheet against the accused.
In one case, a video was shown in court with only half of the footage, which was done to frame an innocent person in a false case.
In another verdict, while acquitting the accused, the court pointed out serious flaws in the investigation. The judge remarked, “It is possible that two police officers were used as witnesses just to create the impression that the case had been solved.”
