New Delhi: A Delhi court ordered the registration of a FIR against Delhi cabinet minister Kapil Mishra and others to investigate his alleged involvement in the 2020 Delhi riots. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia found a “prima facie” cognizable offence that warranted an in-depth investigation.
The judge stated, “It is clear that Mishra was present in the area at the time of the alleged offence, and further investigation is required.” This ruling came while the judge was considering a plea filed by a Yamuna Vihar resident, Mohammad Ilyas, who sought the registration of the FIR. The Delhi Police opposed the plea, arguing that Mishra had no role in the riots.
The court’s decision was made in response to a plea from Mohammad Ilyas, a resident of Yamuna Vihar, who accused Mishra and others of inciting violence during the riots. Ilyas alleged that on February 23, 2020, he witnessed Mishra and his associates blocking a road in Kardampuri and damaging vendors’ carts. He also claimed that police officials were present during these incidents.
The Delhi Police opposed Ilyas’s plea, asserting that Mishra had no involvement in the riots and suggested that there was a conspiracy to falsely implicate him. Nevertheless, the court stressed the importance of a thorough investigation, highlighting Mishra’s presence in the area during the alleged offences.
The Northeast Delhi riots, which took place between February 24 and 26, 2020, resulted in 53 deaths and over 500 injuries.
