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Supreme Court Rejects Devangana Kalita’s Bid to Reconstruct Delhi Riots Case Diaries

Citing Section 172 CrPC, the bench affirmed diary confidentiality, directing any tampering allegations to be pursued at trial.

Overview

  • A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale on March 9 dismissed Kalita’s appeal seeking reconstruction of the police case diaries.
  • The decision leaves intact the Delhi High Court’s September 22, 2025 order that refused reconstruction but required preservation of volumes 9989 and 9990.
  • The judges questioned the timing of the challenge, noting the trial began in December 2020 and asking why the issue was raised years later.
  • Relying on Section 172(3) CrPC, the Court noted the accused have no right to inspect police diaries, which are not evidence though courts may consult them to aid proceedings.
  • Kalita alleges witness statements were ante-dated or forged, an issue lower courts said should be addressed during the ongoing Jafrabad FIR trial.