Trial in Delhi riots larger conspiracy case set to be delayed after judge's transfer, again
Following a recent reshuffle of 135 judges across New Delhi, the trial in the larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots is set to be delayed again. The case was at the stage of arguments on charges, after which the trial was likely to begin.
Five of the 18 accused people had concluded their arguments over the past few months. They will now have to argue from scratch as will Special Public Prosecutors Amit Prasad and Madhukar Pandey, who had concluded their arguments from the Delhi Police Special Cell's side.
'Accordingly all the Special Public Prosecutors and counsel of accused persons are directed to furnish their schedule regarding the time frame and manner in which they will address arguments, particularly time/hours taken by them,' said Additional Sessions Judge Lalit Kumar of Karkardooma Court in his order on od.
ASJ Kumar, who replaced ASJ Sameer Bajpai, stated that the arguments on charge have to be expedited and listed the case on June 6. This was the first time he had heard the case.
Judge Bajpai had been transferred following an administrative order issued by the Delhi High Court last week. This is the second time the case has been delayed because of a routine transfer. In October 2023, the Court of ASJ Amitabh Rawat (who heard the cases before ASJ Bajpai) directed arguments on charges to be conducted on a day-to-day basis. Judge Rawat was transferred in mid-December 2023.
The Delhi Police Special Cell is investigating the alleged conspiracy behind the riots that broke out in February 2020 and left 53 dead and over 700 injured. They have booked 18 accused under relevant provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The first chargesheet was filed on November 20, 2020, and the fourth supplementary chargesheet was filed on June 8, 2023 — after a gap of two and a half years.
The accused persons include Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, Ishrat Jahan, Faizan Khan, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha (all six on bail), Tahir Husain, Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi; Sharjeel Imam; Meeran Haider; Gulfisha Fatima; Shifa-Ur-Rehman; Shadab Ahmed; Tasleem Ahmed; Saleem Malik; Mohd Saleem Khan and Athar Khan (all twelve in jail for over four years).
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