Devendra, Gautam and Anmol cleared of arson, loot and rioting in the Sonia Vihar violence case
NEW DELHI – The Karkardooma court in the national capital has acquitted three men in a case related to the 2020 Delhi riots, saying the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
Devendra, Gautam and Anmol were arrested on allegations of arson, looting and rioting during the anti-Muslim violence that broke out in North-East Delhi in February 2020.
Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh, while delivering the order earlier this week, said there was no solid evidence to establish the guilt of the accused. “I find that there is no concrete evidence to prove the offence against the accused. The benefit of doubt goes to the accused and all are acquitted of the charges framed against them,” the court observed.
The case related to incidents that allegedly took place on 25 February 2020 in the Sonia Vihar police station area, particularly around Milan Garden and nearby localities. The prosecution had claimed that the three accused were part of a mob involved in communal violence.
During the riots, several areas of North-East Delhi witnessed clashes, arson and damage to property. Police had registered multiple cases in connection with the incidents.
However, in this particular case, the court found that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to directly link the three men to the alleged offences.
A key part of the prosecution’s case was CCTV footage said to have been obtained from the Public Works Department (PWD). The footage was presented as evidence to show the presence of the accused at the scene.
During the hearing, the court noted that the case was largely based on this video material. The judge said the footage could not be legally accepted as admissible evidence in its current form.
“The entire case rests on the video footage. The same cannot be treated as admissible evidence in accordance with the law,” the court said.
The judge also remarked that the evidence presented by the prosecution was deficient and that allowing it to be proved again at this stage would violate legal provisions.
As a result, the court declined to rely on the CCTV footage and granted the accused the benefit of the doubt.
Following the order, the three accused were acquitted of all charges. Their legal counsel said the verdict reaffirmed the principle that guilt must be proved beyond any doubt.
One of the defence lawyers said outside the court, “The court has clearly stated that there was no solid evidence. The law requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and that standard was not met.”
The prosecution has not yet indicated whether it will challenge the order in a higher court.
The 2020 Delhi riots led to several investigations and trials across different courts in the capital. Many cases are still under trial, while some have resulted in convictions or acquittals, depending on the evidence presented.
Legal experts say that courts assess each case separately. “In criminal law, the burden is on the prosecution. If evidence is not legally admissible or sufficient, the accused must be given the benefit of doubt,” said a senior advocate practising in Delhi.
With this acquittal, Devendra, Gautam and Anmol stand cleared of the charges in this case. The judgment highlights the importance of proper collection and presentation of evidence in riot-related prosecutions.
