Delhi Police Opposes FIR Against New State Law Minister, Calling Allegations Baseless
New Delhi : The newly formed BJP government in Delhi has taken a decisive stance on legal matters surrounding the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. In a significant development, the Delhi Police on Thursday opposed a petition seeking an FIR against BJP leader and newly appointed Delhi State Law Minister Kapil Mishra, who was accused of inciting violence during the riots.
During a hearing at the Rouse Avenue Court, the police informed Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia that their investigation found Mishra was falsely implicated in a conspiracy and was wrongfully portrayed as a leader of the rioters.
The petition, filed in August 2024 by Mohammad Ilyas, a resident of Jamia Vihar, sought an FIR against Mishra and five others, including BJP leaders Mustafabad MLA Mohan Singh Bisht, former MLA Jagdish Pradhan, and Satpal MP, as well as the then Station House Officer (SHO) of Dayalpur Police Station. After hearing arguments, the court reserved its judgment, scheduling the verdict announcement for March 24.
Advocate Mahmood Pracha, representing Ilyas, argued that on February 23, 2020, he personally witnessed Kapil Mishra and his associates blocking a road in Kardampuri, vandalizing shops and vehicles. He claimed that Delhi Police officials, including the then Deputy Police Commissioner (Northeast), stood by Mishra, warning protestors to vacate the area or face consequences.
In response, Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad, representing the Delhi Police Special Cell, stated that Mishra’s role in the riots had been thoroughly investigated and dismissed. He emphasized that the case falls under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), under which former JNU student leader Umar Khalid and other activists have been named.
Prasad cited evidence from Delhi Protest Support Group (DPSG) chats, claiming that road blockades were pre-planned between February 15 and 17, 2020. He argued that no credible evidence linked Mishra to the riots and that attempts were being made to falsely implicate him as the leader of the violence.
The Delhi Police reiterated that a Special Cell investigation had already cleared Mishra of any involvement in the riots, dismissing the demand for an FIR as baseless. As the case unfolds, the court’s verdict on March 24 will determine the next legal course
