Delhi Riots: Court Unhappy Over Pendency Of Case For 18 Months, Says Unable To Commit It To Sessions Court Given 'Lackadaisical Attitude' Of Police

Expressing it's unhappiness over pendency of a case concerning the North East Delhi riots since June last year, a Delhi Court on Monday remarked that it was not able to commit the matter to the concerned Sessions Court due to "lackadaisical attitude" of the Crime Branch police officials and non appearance of the SPP representing the State.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Arun Kumar Garg was dealing with FIR 60/2020 PS DayalPur registered in connection with murder of Head Constable Ratan Lal and causing head injuries to a DCP during the riots.

The Court took note of the fact that no acknowledgment regarding supply of deficient copies to one of the accused namely Athar Khan in terms of it's order dated November 1, 2021 was placed on record by the Investigating Officer. The Court also noted that neither the IO nor the concerned SPP had appeared in the court.

"A perusal of file shows that the present matter pending before this court since 22.06.2020 and the court is not able to commit the same to Ld. Sessions Court due to lackadaisical attitude of the police officials of PS Crime Branch and due to non appearance of Ld SPP for State," the Court said.

It also directed the IO to supply deficient copies to co-accused Shadab Khan.

The Court called for an explanation from the IO as well as DCP (Crime Branch) under the signatures of it's Special Commissioner of Police as to why appropriate action as per law be not taken against them for non-compliance of Court's directions.

"In the meantime, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) is directed to ensure supply of all the deficient copies to accused Shadab Ahmad and Athar Khan against proper acknowledgment in terms of prayers made in their respective applications U/s 207 Cr.P.C. positively within a period of seven days and to furnish a compliance report under his signatures," the Judge added.

The matter will now be heard on January 17, 2022.

About FIR 60/2020 (P.S. DayalPur)

FIR 60/2020 was registered on the statement of a Constable stating that on 24th February last year, he was on the law and order arrangement duty with other staff members at Chand Bagh area.

It was stated that around 1 PM protesters carrying danda, lathis, baseball bats, iron rods and stones started gathering at the main Wazirabad road and did not pay heed to the directions of senior officers, thereby became violent.

It was further stated that after repeated warnings to the protestors, mild force and gas shells were used to disperse the crowd. According to the Constable, violent protesters started beating people as well as police personnel, due to which he himself sustained injury on his right elbow and hand.

He also stated that the protestors attacked DCP Shahdara, ACP Gokulpuri, and Head Constable Rattan Lal due to which they fell on the road and sustained grievous injuries. All the injured persons were taken to hospital, where it was found that HC Rattan Lal had already died due to injuries sustained and DCP Shahdara was unconscious and had sustained head injuries.

Case Title: STATE Vs. MOHD SALEEM KHAN AND OTHERS

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