Lack of Evidence Clears 12 in 2020 Delhi Riot Murder Case
A Delhi court acquitted 12 men accused of murder during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, citing insufficient evidence and unreliable eyewitness accounts. The court noted major discrepancies in testimonies and weak corroborative evidence. Consequently, all accused were granted the benefit of doubt and acquitted of all charges.
- Country:
- India
A Delhi court has acquitted 12 individuals accused of abducting and murdering a man during the notorious 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The pivotal reason for the acquittal was the prosecution's failure to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, primarily due to significant inconsistencies in eyewitness testimonies and insufficient corroborative evidence.
The case involved complicated allegations against a group of men, including Lokesh Solanki and Pankaj Sharma, among others, concerning the murder of Musharraf. His body was initially recovered from a drain in Bhagirathi Vihar amid widespread violence. The court reflected on the prosecution's inability to substantiate claims of murder, rioting, and other charges against the accused.
Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh highlighted a lack of reliable testimonies, dismissing them as mutually destructive. Furthermore, the judge critiqued the testimony of the deceased's wife as "wholly unnatural," noting her delay in reporting the incident. Consequently, the court concluded that the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence to prove the allegations.
(With inputs from agencies.)
Google News