Delhi Riots: Accused Cops Appear Before Court In Case Over Death Of Man Forced To Sing National Anthem

Two officials of the Delhi Police appeared before a Delhi Court on Tuesday after they were summoned as accused for the death of 23 year-old Faizan, who was allegedly forced to sing national anthem during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. 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 national anthem.Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Mayank Goel of Rouse Avenue Courts directed that copy of the chargesheet and relevant documents be supplied to both the accused persons as well as the victim's counsel. The matter is not listed on March 02 for scrutiny of documents. SPP Prashant Kumar Sharma appeared for CBI. Advocate Soutik Banerjee appeared for the victim. Head Constable Ravinder Kumar and Constable Pawan Yadav were summoned by the judge earlier this month after chargesheet was filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).This was after the Delhi High Court in 2024 had transferred investigation to the CBI, while allowing the plea moved by Kismatun, Faizan's mother, seeking SIT investigation into her son's death.In an order passed on February 04, the judge noted that during investigation, evidences were collected by the IO and on the basis of investigation carried out, the chargesheet was against accused cops. “There is sufficient material on record to take cognizance for commission of offence u/s 323, 325, 304(II) r/w Section 34 IPC and substantive offences thereof,” the Court said. The mother had alleged that the 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. 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.While transferring the probe to CBI, Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani had criticised Delhi Police's investigation, saying that it was “conveniently sparing” of the persons suspected to be involved in “brutally assaulting” Faizan.The Court had said that far from preventing incidents of hate-crime, admittedly some policemen were found to have indulged in mob-violence and mob vigilantism against Faizan.Click here to read order

Delhi Riots: Accused Cops Appear Before Court In Case Over Death Of Man Forced To Sing National Anthem

Nupur Thapliyal

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