'Promoted Hatred For Muslims, Added Fuel To Tensions': Court Sentences Man To 3 Years In Delhi Riots Case

A Delhi Court has sentenced a man, who was convicted in a case relating to the 2020 North East Delhi riots, to three years in jail, observing that he promoted hatred against the Muslim community and added fuel to the already simmering tensions.Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh of Karkardooma Courts sentenced Lokesh Kumar Solanki, who was convicted in the case on June 05, to three years of imprisonment but ordered his release as he had already spent more than three years in custody. Solanki was convicted in FIR 149 of 2020 at Gokalpuri police station for the offences under Section 153A and Section 505 of Indian Penal Code, 1860. It was alleged that Solanki, through his messages, attempted to promote disharmony, feeling of enmity and hatred for Muslims and his messages were intended to cause alarm to other members of the group and to induce them to commit offences against Muslims.His counsel submitted that Solanki was a young boy with old parents and had already undergone custody in the case for more than three years and the sentences provided for both the offences had maximum punishment of imprisonment up to three years. On the other hand, the prosecution argued that looking at the kind of messages posted by Solanki, he should be sentenced with the maximum punishment for both the offences.Passing the sentencing order, the judge said:“The fact, that during the tense period of February 2020, the convict had added fuel to the already simmering tensions by spreading messages which were intended to promote enmity and hatred for Muslim community and induced the members of the group to commit crime against Muslim, calls for no leniency and makes the offence very serious in nature.”However, the judge added that Solanki had already undergone the imprisonment of more than 03 years which is the maximum punishment which could be awarded for offences in question.While the Court sentenced Solanki to three years in jail for the two offences, it imposed costs of Rs. 50,000 on him. “As the convict has already spent more than 03 years in custody, he is ordered to be released in this case, subject to payment of aforesaid fine,” the Court said. Click here to read order

'Promoted Hatred For Muslims, Added Fuel To Tensions': Court Sentences Man To 3 Years In Delhi Riots Case

Nupur Thapliyal

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