A Delhi court has acquitted 10 accused, giving them the benefit of doubt in a case related to the riots that rocked the North-east area of Delhi in February 2020.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Pulastya Pramachala of Karkardooma Courts recorded in his September 11 order that allegations against the accused were not proven beyond reasonable doubt.
The ASJ acquitted Mohd. Shahnawaz alias Shanu, Mohd. Shoaib alias Chhutwa, Shahrukh, Rashid alias Raja, Azad, Ashraf Ali, Parvej, Md. Faisal, Rashid alias Monu and Mohd Tahir.
As per the case, the accused had entered a house in Gokulpuri area of Delhi during the riots and set fire to the property. It was also alleged that the rioters stole gold and silver jewellery from the house along with Rs 2 lakh in cash.
After considering the case, the Court ruled that an unlawful assembly had attacked the property and indulged in a riotous act but there were certain witnesses whose genuineness was under doubt.
The Court said while the probe could have been delayed due to the riots and Covid-19, the same could not be an excuse when it came to the genuineness of the claims made by the police and eye-witnesses.
The claims made by some of the witnesses did not support the case of prosecution on the aspect of identification of accused persons. Besides, it was unsafe to rely upon the evidence of some of the witnesses to believe that all the accused were part of the mob, which had attacked the property of PW1, held the ASJ.