Delhi Riots: High Court Issues Notice On Delhi Police's Plea Challenging Trial Court's Order Imposing Rs. 25k Cost For Callous Investigation'

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice on Delhi Police's plea challenging Trial Court's order which had imposed Rs. 25,000 cost on it by calling the investigation as 'farcical' and 'most callous' in connection with a Delhi Riots case.

A single judge bench comprising of Justice Subramonium Prasad sought response of Nasir, the complainant in the riots matter, while posting the matter for further hearing on September 13.

However, the court clarified that the cost imposed by the learned trial court of Rs. 25,000 on Delhi Police may not be deposited till the next date of hearing.

ASG Raju appeared on behalf of the Delhi police whereas Advocate Mehmood Pracha appeared for the Respondent, Nasir.

The trial court was dealing with a revision petition filed by SHO, PS Bhajanpura challenging an order directing them to register a seperate FIR of one Mohd. Nasir who had recieved injuries in the North East Delhi riots.

Pulling up the Delhi Police for its conduct, Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav had observed that the SHO Bhajanpura and other supervising officers have miserably failed in performing their statutory duties.

In its appeal against the said order, the Police has stated that the Sessions Judge as well as the Metropolitan Magistrate had failed to take into consideration sec. 210 of CrPC which mandates the Court below to proceed with the complaint case relating to the same offence once it is brought to the knowledge of the court that such an investigation is in progress.

"Because the Ld. Court while dismissing the revision upheld the order of Ld. MM which was passed was contrary to the Law & facts, infact registration of FIR would further increase the burden on the judicial system which already overburdened." The plea reads.

It has also been averred that the the Additional Sessions Judge had imposed a cost without giving any opportunity to the DCP for making his submissions which is against the principles of natural justice.

"Because the Ld. Court below has completely failed to take into consideration that the respondent/Complainant is a victim and his statement has already been recorded during the course of investigation and on some aspect supplementary investigation is in progress and there is no occasion of separate FIR as the offence is relating to the same offence." The plea reads.

The plea also states that the ASJ has failed to appreciate that imposition of such cost was "not only unwarranted but uncalled for" for the reason that the court did not find the petition as vexatious and that hand imposition of such cost would "seriously affect not only the career of the Govt. Officials but would certainly cause serious dent to the reputation of the officers."

Furthermore, it has been stated thus:

"Because the Ld. Court has made very serious remarks against the investigation even prior to the commencement of the trial which is contrary to the basic law that noo finding should be given in the midst of trial. But in the present case, such adverse remarks which are bound to effect the fate of the case, whose trial is still to commence and that too without calling report or explanation from the concerned IO."

A criminal revision petition was filed by SHO Bhajanpura challenging the order passed by Metropolitan Magistrate directing it to register a seperate FIR on Nasir's complaint within 24 hours of the order.

It was the case of Nasir that during the riots, he had suffered gunshot injury in his left eye after one Naresh Tyagi opened fire upon him. He was taken to the GTB hospital thereafter wherein he was operated and discharged later on 20th March, 2020.

A written complaint was made to SHO Bhajanpura on 19 March last year wherein he had specifically named Naresh Tyagi, Subhash Tyagi, Uttam Tyagi, Sushil, Naresh Gaur and others as the assailants; however, no FIR was registered by the police.

Being aggrieved by this, he had approached the MM Court by way of petition filed under Section 156 (3) Cr.P.C on 17.07.2020.

In the meantime, an FIR was registered by the Delhi Police on the statement of ASI Ashok with regards to incident of rioting in Nasir's locality stating that besides Nasir, six more persons had suffered gunshot injuries on the said date and time.

"I do not find any merit in this revision petition. The same accordingly stands dismissed with a cost of Rs.25,000/- (Rupees Twenty Five Thousand Only) which shall be deposited with Delhi Legal Services Authority by DCP (North-East) within one week from today and the said amount shall be recovered from the petitioner and his supervising officers, who have miserably failed in their statutory duties in this case after holding a due inquiry in this regard. The interim order passed by this Court on 29.10.2020 stands recalled forthwith." The Trial Court had ordered.

The plea seeks the following prayers:

- Call for the Trial Court Records.

- Set aside the order dated 13.07.2021 passed by Sh. Vinod Yadav, Ld. ASJ-03, North East District, Karkardooma Courts, Delhi.

- Set aside the order dated 21/10/2020 passed by Ms. Richa Manchanda Ld. MM, North East Distriet, Karkardooma Courts, Delhi.

Title: STATE (NCT OF DELHI) THROUGH SHO, PS BHAJANPUR v. MOHAMMAD NASIR & ORS