Thorough Probe In Death Of Man Forced To Sing 'Vande Mataram' During Delhi Riots Must Not Be Delayed Further: Mother To High Court

The mother of a 23 year-old Faizan, who was forced to sing Vande Mataram during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, has told Delhi High Court that a thorough investigation in relation to her son's death brooks “no further delay.”

The incident relates to a video that had gone viral on social media wherein Faizan was seen allegedly being beaten by the police, along with four other men, while being forced to sing Vande Mataram.

Advocate Vrinda Grover made the submission before Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani who was hearing the plea filed by Kismatun, Faizan's mother, seeking a SIT probe into her son's death.

Delhi police had illegally detained the man and denied him critical health care as a result of which he succumbed to injuries on February 26, 2020, his family alleges. Faizan died at city's GTB hospital within 24 hours of his release from Jyoti Nagar police station, where he was taken after being allegedly assaulted by police officers.

Grover relied upon a recent Supreme Court ruling in Awungshi Chirmayo and Anr. v. Government of NCT of Delhi and Ors. and submitted that in a similar case, the Apex Court has considered it appropriate to handover the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) based on the premise that even if the probe was fair in that case, it was seen to be ineffective.

The court held an in-chamber hearing with SPP Amit Prasad appearing for the Delhi Police accompanied by the DCP (South East) and ACP of Crime Branch.

Justice Bhambhani was taken through various documents, CCTV footage and other material relating to the on going investigation into Faizan's death.

While the SPP and the officials shared certain aspects of the investigation with court, they prayed that the material and the status of the probe not be shared with the mother, at least at this stage.

SPP explained to the court certain proposed actions in relation to the investigation and submitted that the police would proceed expeditiously on those lines.

The matter will now be heard on May 08.

Earlier, the mother told court that her son's death is a “hate crime and custodial murder”. He was “targeted for his religion,” Grover had told court.

Counsel for Petitioner: Ms. Vrinda Grover with Mr. Soutik Banerjee and Ms. Devika Tulsiani, Advocates

Counsel for Respondents: Mr. Amit Prasad, SPP

Title: KISMATUN v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH HOME DEPARTMENT & ORS.

Click here to read order