Delhi HC Seeks Centre's Response On Plea To Disclose Names Of Persons Arrested By Delhi Police In Riots Cases

The Delhi Police has violated section 41C of the Criminal Procedure Code by not revealing the names of the persons arrested in connection with the Delhi riots, submitted the counsel for CPI(M) leader Brind Karat before the Delhi High Court on Monday.

The counsel further submitted before a division bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan that instead of submitting these names before the court in a sealed cover, the Delhi Police should serve a copy of the same to the Petitioners.

The Petitioner argued, 'Families of the arrested persons have a right to know who all have been arrested and for what crime so that they can seek an appropriate remedy.'

It was highlighted by the Petitioner that due to the secrecy being maintained by the Delhi Police around the names of arrested persons, the aggrieved persons are unable to file bail applications.

"Most of the arrested persons were mere bystanders, police must reveal the names of the arrested persons", the Petitioner argued.

The Petitioner has further asked the court to issue a direction to the Delhi Police to also reveal the names of all those persons who have been arrested post the imposition of the lockdown.

In light of these submissions, the court has directed the Central Government to file replies to all the petitions concerning the Delhi riots within 2 days.

The matter will next be taken up on July 21.