Delhi Court Acquits 10 Accused in 2020 Gokulpuri Rioting Case
New Delhi, India – On September 12, Delhi’s Karkardooma Court acquitted ten individuals accused of rioting in 2020. The case was based on an FIR registered at Gokulpuri. Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala found that the charges against the accused were not proven beyond reasonable doubt.
Details of the Case
The accused, Mohammed Shahnawaz alias Shanu, Mohd. Shoaib alias Chhutwa, Shahrukh, Rashid alias Raja, Azad, Ashraf Ali, Parvej, Md. Faisal, Rashid alias Monu, and Mohammed Tahir, were charged with various offenses under the Indian Penal Code, including rioting, arson, and theft.
Complainant’s Allegations
According to the complainant, Narender Kumar, on March 1, 2020, around 1500 rioters armed with deadly weapons vandalized a pizza shop on the ground floor of his property. Later, 50-60 rioters threatened his family and looted valuables, including gold, silver, and cash. They also set fire to furniture and documents.
Investigation and Chargesheets
After the investigation, a chargesheet was filed on July 14, 2020, against the accused. Supplementary chargesheets were filed on January 9, 2023, and September 25, 2023. However, the court concluded that some complaints could not be clubbed with this case.
Judge Pramachala stated, “I find that charges leveled against all the accused persons in this case are not proved beyond reasonable doubts. Hence, accused Mohd. Shahnawaz alias Shanu, Mohd. Shoaib alias Chhutwa, Shahrukh, Rashid alias Raja, Azad, Ashraf Ali, Parvej, Md. Faisal, Rashid alias Monu, and Mohd Tahir are given benefit of doubt and they are acquitted of all the charges leveled against them in this case.”
Doubts Revealed
Delhi Court -: A Delhi Court is a place where legal cases are heard and decided in Delhi, the capital city of India.
Acquits -: Acquits means that the court has decided that the people accused of a crime are not guilty and are free to go.
Accused -: Accused refers to the people who were thought to have done something wrong or illegal.
2020 Gokulpuri Rioting Case -: This refers to a specific event in 2020 where there was a lot of disorder and violence in the Gokulpuri area of Delhi.
Karkardooma Court -: Karkardooma Court is a specific court in Delhi where legal cases are heard and decided.
Rioting -: Rioting means a violent disturbance by a crowd of people.
Insufficient evidence -: Insufficient evidence means there wasn’t enough proof to show that the accused people did something wrong.
Chargesheets -: Chargesheets are official documents that list the crimes someone is accused of.
Unproven beyond reasonable doubt -: This means that the court was not completely sure that the accused people did the crime, so they were let go.
Complainant -: A complainant is a person who says that something wrong or illegal happened to them.
Vandalized -: Vandalized means damaging or destroying property on purpose.
Looted -: Looted means stealing things, usually during a time of chaos.