• Source:JND
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2020 Northeast Delhi Riots Case: Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Tuesday ordered police to register an FIR against UT's Law Minister Kapil Mishra and others while hearing the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots case. 

The court has directed further investigation in his alleged role in the case. While hearing the case, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia found a "prime facie" cognisable offence, requiring a probe.

He said, "It is clear that Mishra was in the area at the time of the alleged offence… further probe required."

The court observed that on the basis of material placed by the Delhi Police, Mishra's presence was in the area of Kardam Puri, and hence a cognizable offence has been found. The judge said that it needed to be invested.

The additional chief judicial magistrate was hearing arguments on a petition filed by a Yamuna Vihar resident named Mohammad Ilyas, who sought registration of the FIR against Mishra. The petition was filed after the Delhi Police refused to register the FIR, claiming Mishra had no role in the riots. 

Represented by advocate Mehmood Pracha, Ilyas has alleged that on February 23, 2020, he saw Mishra and others blocking a road in Kardampuri and destroying street vendors’ carts.

He also alleged that the then deputy commissioner of police (northeast) and other Delhi Police officers stood next to the Delhi minister, threatening protestors to vacate the area or face consequences.

Ilyas described three incidents over the following three days, during which he allegedly saw the Dayalpur SHO, along with Mustafabad MLA Mohan Singh Bisht, former MLA Jagdish Pradhan, and Satal Sansad, vandalising mosques across northeast Delhi.

Earlier, on February 27, Delhi Police opposed the petition, stating that the Delhi minister's role was already investigated in relation to a larger conspiracy of the riot case. The case involved multiple figures like former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and others.

(With inputs from PTI)