Delhi Court Acquits Three In 2020 Delhi Riots Case, Criticises Police For Faulty Probe

A Delhi court has acquitted three men accused in the 2020 North-East Delhi riots case relating to arson and vandalism at Jannati Masjid, Gokalpuri.

The Court strongly criticised the Delhi Police for arresting the accused based on inadmissible electronic evidence and unreliable, delayed eyewitness testimony.

Holding that the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the Court noted serious investigative lapses, including the absence of legally admissible proof linking the accused to the incident. 

It cautioned that personal liberty cannot be curtailed on the basis of suspicion or weak evidence, and reiterated that criminal convictions must rest on strict adherence to evidentiary standards.

[State v. Deepak & Ors.]