'Delhi riots case': Probe standard very poor in most cases, court observes

A Delhi court has observed that the standard of investigation in a large number of 2020 northeast Delhi riots cases is “very poor”.

The court made the observation while framing charges against one Ashraf Ali for allegedly attacking police officials with acid, glass bottles and bricks during the communal violence on February 25, 2020.

It pointed out that in a majority of cases investigating officers (IOs) have not been appearing in court and sought the intervention of the Delhi Police Commissioner. The court also added that IOs of the riot case have not been briefing the prosecutors for arguments on charges and are merely e-mailing PDF of the charge sheet to them on the morning of the hearing.

Furthermore, the court said the police hardly bother about taking the investigation to a logical end after filing half-baked charge sheets and as a result the accused, named in multiple cases, continue to languish in jails.

He also directed the copy of the order in this matter to be sent to the Commissioner of Delhi Police “for his reference and directing the taking of remedial steps”.