Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh of Karkardooma Court dismisses pleas for leniency and stresses the need to uphold the law’s authority
NEW DELHI – In a significant development related to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots, the Karkardooma court has convicted six Hindu men for looting and torching the shop of Advocate Ahmed, a Muslim resident of Sadatpur area under the Khajuri Khas police station. The court sentenced the accused to imprisonment ranging between six months and three years, stating that punishment—not mere fines—is necessary to preserve public faith in justice and maintain fear of the law.
The verdict, delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh on October 31, marks another chapter in the long quest for justice for victims of the communal violence that shook Delhi in February 2020. Those convicted are Hari Om Gupta, Gorakhnath, Bhim Sai, Kapil Pandey, Rohit Gautam, and Basant Kumar.
The six were found guilty under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with weapons), 435 (arson), and 450 (house trespass and causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court also imposed a fine of ₹61,000 on each accused.
Judge Singh observed that although none of the accused had prior criminal records, the severity of their actions during the communal violence demanded custodial punishment. The court rejected defence pleas for leniency, asserting that releasing the convicts on fines alone would “send a wrong message” and weaken the rule of law.
“The offence was serious. It cannot be treated lightly or punished by merely imposing fines,” said the court in its judgment. “The acts committed by the convicts were intended to spread fear and destroy livelihoods.”
The case stems from an FIR lodged at the Khajuri Khas Police Station. The complainant, Advocate Ahmed, a practising lawyer, stated that his shop in Sadatpur was attacked and set ablaze on 25 February 2020, when mobs roamed the streets targeting Muslim-owned establishments.
“They looted everything I had and burnt down my shop,” Ahmed told the court earlier. “I lost nearly one and a half lakh rupees that day. More than money, it was an attack on my identity.”
Ahmed’s shop, which served as his family’s main source of income, was left in ashes. He said he had to rebuild his life from scratch.
The prosecution’s case was strengthened by the testimony of head constable Sandeep, who identified the accused after reviewing video footage from the scene. The visuals captured the mob’s actions, including the looting and arson at Ahmed’s shop.
Based on this evidence, the court concluded that all six accused had participated in the violence. “The video evidence, supported by witness identification, clearly proves their involvement,” the court stated.
While pronouncing the sentence, the court emphasised the importance of punishment in maintaining the rule of law and deterring such acts in the future. “These were not ordinary offences. They were part of a larger chain of violence that targeted a community,” Judge Singh said. “Such crimes must invite suitable punishment to ensure justice for the victims.”
Many Muslim residents in Northeast Delhi continue to express disappointment over what they describe as “delayed justice” and “selective accountability” in riot cases.
“It has taken more than four years for a simple conviction,” said Mohammed Rashid, a local community worker in Khajuri Khas. “Many families lost their homes and businesses, yet justice moves at a snail’s pace. At least this verdict gives a bit of hope.”
Human rights observers have repeatedly urged authorities to ensure that all cases related to the 2020 riots irrespective of the community of the accused—are handled with fairness and transparency.
“The 2020 riots exposed deep communal divisions,” said Dr Shabnam Ali, a social researcher. “Punishments like these are important, but real justice will come when the system treats every victim equally, regardless of religion.”
The violence in Northeast Delhi erupted in February 2020 amid protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Clashes between Hindu and Muslim groups spiralled into large-scale arson, looting, and killings that claimed 53 lives—most of them Muslims—and left hundreds injured.
Several shops, homes, and mosques belonging to Muslims were torched, displacing families who have since struggled to rebuild their lives.
While Advocate Ahmed welcomed the court’s decision, he said it could not undo the pain of what happened. “I’m grateful that the court acknowledged my suffering,” Ahmed said. “But justice delayed is justice denied. Many like me are still waiting.”
Legal experts believe the verdict could encourage other victims to pursue their cases with renewed determination. “It’s a reminder that even delayed justice matters,” said lawyer Farah Naaz, who has worked on several riot-related cases. “It’s important that Muslim victims feel their voices are being heard in courtrooms.”
As the convicts prepare to serve their sentences, the verdict stands as a small but significant step towards accountability in one of the darkest episodes in Delhi’s recent history—a reminder that communal violence spares no one and that justice, though delayed, must prevail.
