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Delhi Court Acquits Four in 2020 North-East Delhi Riots Case

The judge found police testimony, investigation records and CCTV evidence did not link the accused to the charged incidents, so the prosecution failed to meet the required standard of proof.

Overview

  • The court's May 19 order acquitted Sumit Kumar, Anuj, Rahul and Sachin of all charges arising from alleged attacks in Karawal Nagar and cancelled their bail bonds.
  • Judge Parveen Singh ruled the prosecution's case rested mainly on two police witnesses who were not credible because their versions conflicted with the investigating officers' records on place and timing.
  • The judge concluded that the CCTV footage shown by the prosecution did not depict the specific incidents on which charges were framed, so it could not serve as reliable identification evidence.
  • Key complainants were either not produced for trial or testified they could not identify the accused, which left the court without victim identification to corroborate police claims.
  • The decision underlines the trial court's insistence on corroborated evidence in riot prosecutions and could influence how other 2020 North‑East Delhi cases are tested for police-led identification and electronic links.