Delhi Court Greenlights Charge Arguments in North East Delhi Riots Case

Delhi's Karkardooma court has directed the prosecution to commence arguments on charges in the North East Delhi riots case, confirming that the investigation against the charge-sheeted accused is complete. Accused individuals had sought confirmation of investigation status before proceeding with charge arguments.

Delhi's Karkardooma court on Wednesday instructed the prosecution to begin arguments on charges in the 'North East Delhi riots case,' indicating that the investigation against the charge-sheeted accused has reached completion. The court highlighted that the written submissions from the prosecution confirmed the conclusion of the investigation for those charged so far.

Special judge Sameer Bajpai affirmed that the prosecution has completed the investigation, paving the way for charge arguments. Accused Athar Khan, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Meeran Haider, Natasha Narwal, and Devangana Kalita had asked the court to ensure the investigation's completion before proceeding with the arguments.

The FIR in this case was registered on March 6, 2020, with the main charge sheet filed on September 16, 2020, following the invocation of UAPA provisions. Several supplementary charge sheets were subsequently filed, the most recent being on June 7, 2023. Despite these developments, applicants contended that the investigation appeared ongoing and sought clarity before moving forward.

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad countered that there was enough material for the court to proceed with charge arguments and accused the applicants of causing unnecessary delays. Prasad noted that previous attempts to schedule arguments were hindered by the applicants' actions.

The court acknowledged the need for sufficient material to consider charges and remarked on the unique situation presented by this case. The special judge referenced a Delhi High Court judgment, clarifying that a charge sheet must be fully submitted before charge arguments could proceed. The court therefore directed the prosecution to confirm the charge sheet's completeness and readiness for hearing arguments on charges.

(With inputs from agencies.)