New Delhi: A Delhi court has directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Jyoti Nagar police station for allegedly forcing a group of Muslim men to sing Vande Mataram and the national anthem during the 2020 Delhi riots. The order follows a complaint filed by one of the victims, who accused the police of custodial torture, reported the Times of India.
The case gained prominence after a widely circulated video showed several Muslim men being brutally beaten by police officers while being coerced into singing patriotic songs. Among them was 23-year-old Faizan, who succumbed to injuries just 24 hours after being released from police custody.
Mohd. Wasim, another victim of the incident, had filed a complaint in July 2020, demanding action against the police officers involved. After authorities failed to act, he approached the Karkardooma Court, seeking an investigation. Wasim alleged that the police subjected them to severe beatings, forced them to chant slogans like Jai Shri Ram and Vande Mataram, and inflicted inhumane treatment upon them.
Judicial Magistrate First Class Udbhav Kumar Jain directed the filing of an FIR against the SHO under Sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The court also instructed that the investigation be conducted by a senior officer not below the rank of Inspector to determine the involvement of other unidentified police personnel.
The court criticized the Action Taken Report (ATR) submitted by Delhi Police, which denied the allegations but failed to provide any evidence of a preliminary inquiry. The ruling emphasized that the officers engaged in a hate crime and could not be shielded under the guise of official duty.
In August last year, the Delhi High Court transferred the investigation into Faizan’s death to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), condemning the Delhi Police’s actions as a “hate crime” rooted in “religious bigotry.”
This court directive marks a significant step toward accountability for alleged police excesses during the 2020 riots. The case has drawn widespread criticism from human rights organizations, who continue to demand justice for victims of police brutality during the communal violence.
As legal proceedings unfold, the case is expected to serve as a test of the authorities’ commitment to addressing custodial violence and ensuring justice for victims of communal hate crimes.
