New Delhi : Five years after the 2020 Delhi riots, victims continue to wait for justice, as courts increasingly acquit accused individuals due to poor police investigations. The Delhi Police’s handling of riot cases has come under severe criticism, with courts dismissing numerous cases for lack of evidence.
A report by BBC Hindi highlighted a recent ruling by Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav at Karkardooma Court, stating, “When history looks at the Delhi riots, it will be evident that the investigating agency did not use modern scientific methods for proper investigations. The poor investigation by the police seems to be an attempt to deceive the court.”
The 2020 Delhi riots led to the deaths of 53 people, including 40 Muslims and 13 Hindus, with hundreds injured and millions of rupees worth of property destroyed. In response, the police registered 758 FIRs and arrested over 2,000 people, yet case outcomes remain highly concerning.
According to the BBC Hindi analysis of 120 riot-related cases, over 80% of accused individuals have either been acquitted or discharged, with cases dismissed due to insufficient evidence. Only 20 cases resulted in convictions, and in 12 of these, the accused pleaded guilty. Despite this, the Delhi Police maintains that all investigations were conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
Further data obtained through an RTI inquiry revealed that, out of 62 murder cases, only one resulted in conviction, while four ended in acquittal. 39 cases remain pending, and investigations in 15 cases are still ongoing. In December 2023, a court sentenced five individuals to seven years in prison for the murder of 22-year-old Monish, also known as Mohsin.
A key case related to the Delhi riots involves 18 individuals charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), yet the trial has not even begun. These developments have raised serious concerns about the investigation process, revealing significant flaws in the Delhi Police’s approach.
The mass acquittals and poor conviction rates have led to widespread frustration, particularly within the Muslim community, which sees the legal process as failing to deliver justice. The continued mishandling of investigations has only deepened the sense of injustice, especially as many accused individuals walk free, despite the scale of violence and destruction during the riots.
