[Delhi Riots] Investigation Seems To Be Targeted Towards One End, Says Court

The investigation into a case related to the communal violence in northeast Delhi seemed to be targeted only towards one end, a Delhi court said while asking the concerned senior cop to ensure fair probe.

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana said this disturbing fact was revealed on the perusal of the case diary.

The judge asked the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) to monitor the probe to ensure fair investigation as police have failed to point out what investigation has been carried out so far regarding the involvement of the rival faction.

The court's observations came while hearing an application for judicial remand of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University student Asif Iqbal Tanha, who has been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case.

The court also noted in its order that the investigating officer failed to point out what investigation has been carried out regarding the involvement of the rival faction .

Perusal of the case diary reveals a disturbing fact. The investigation seems to be targeted only towards one end. Upon enquiry from the IO they have failed to point out what investigation has been carried out so far regarding the involvement of the rival faction. In view of the same, concerned DCP is requested to monitor the investigation and ensure fair investigation, it said.

It, however, did not clarify who the rival faction was. Even during the hearing, the judge made a particular query about rival faction , said a lawyer privy to the matter.

The counsel further said that the investigating officer also did not divulge details about who or what was meant by it.

The court had on Wednesday sent Tanha to judicial custody till June 25 after the police did not seek his further custody.

Advocate Sowjhanya Shankaran, appearing for Tanha, had told the court that he was falsely implicated in the case and had no role in the alleged criminal conspiracy.

JMI student Gulfisha Khatoon, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar, Meeran Haider, President of Jamia Alumni Association Shifa-Ur-Rehman, suspended AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain, former student leader Umar Khalid have also been booked under the anti-terror law in the case.

In March, several pleas were filed in the Delhi High Court seeking filing of FIRs against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Verma and Kapil Mishra for alleged hate speeches by them.

It was alleged that their hate speeches had led to eruption of violence related to the Citizenship Amendment Act in northeast Delhi in February.

Till date no FIR has been lodged against them and the high court had listed the pleas for hearing in July.

Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured.