In first judgement concerning Delhi Riots of February 2020, Delhi Court acquits man of all charges

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Delivering its first judgement in the North East Delhi Riots case, a Delhi Court today acquitted a man who was charged for Rioting, Dacoity and being part of an Unlawful Assembly.

Additional sessions Judge, Amitabh Rawat while pronouncing the judgement said that “the case was a fit one for acquittal” and acquitted the man of all charges.

According to the FIR of the Delhi Police, accused Suresh along with a huge crowd of rioters carrying iron rods and sticks, allegedly broke open the lock of a shop situated in Delhi's Babarpur Road and looted it on February 25 evening.

The shop belonged to one Bhagat Singh and was rented to Asif upon whose complaint a case was registered.

During the investigation, Singh told the police that the “rioters were aggressive and wanted to loot the said shop because it was of a Muslim and he tried to stop them but in vain.”

On March 9, 2021, the court had framed charges against Suresh under Sections 143 (punishment for being a member of an unlawful assembly), 147 (punishment for rioting), 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code.

He was also charged under Section 454 (house-trespass) read with Section 149 (member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 395 (punishment for dacoity) of the Indian Penal Code to which he pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.

The Court had reserved the order on April 21 after which the judgement had been deferred seven times.