The Delhi High Court today transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) the probe into the death of 23 year-old Faizan, who was allegedly forced to sing the national anthem during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.
Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani allowed the plea moved by Kismatun, Faizan’s mother, seeking SIT investigation into her son’s death. The plea was lodged in 2020.
The matter relates to a video that had gone viral on social media wherein the 23-year-old was seen allegedly being beaten by the police, along with four other men, while being forced to sing Vande Mataram.
Advocate Vrinda Grover, Advocate Soutik Banerjee and Advocate Devika Tulsiani appeared for Faizan’s mother, and Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad appeared for Delhi Police. The mother contended that the Delhi Police had illegally detained the man and denied him critical health care as a result of which he succumbed to injuries on February 26, 2020.
The 23-year-old died at city’s GTB hospital within 24 hours of his release from Jyoti Nagar police station, where he was taken after being allegedly assaulted by police officers. Earlier in April, the mother had contended that thorough investigation in relation to her son’s death brooks no further delay.
Advocate Grover had relied upon a recent Supreme Court ruling in Awungshi Chirmayo and Anr. v. Government of NCT of Delhi and Ors. and submitted that in a similar case, the top court has considered it appropriate to handover the matter to the CBI based on the premise that even if the probe was fair in that case, it was seen to be ineffective.
Faizan’s mother had also told court that her son’s death is a hate crime and custodial murder. She alleged that he was targeted for his religion. A coordinate bench in 2022 had questioned the Delhi Police on delay in investigating the case and sought a detailed status report under the signature of the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police.