Complaints suggest systemic issues within the Delhi Police’s investigation methods, including “fictitious” witnesses and “fabricated” evidence. A recent investigation reveals that 93 out of 97 acquittals in the cases related to the 2020 Delhi riots have highlighted significant impropriety in the police’s handling of nearly one in five of these cases. Court records indicate that as of August 2025, verdicts have been issued in 116 of the 695 cases concerning rioting, arson, and unlawful assembly initiated by the Delhi Police. While 97 have resulted in acquittals, only 19 ended in convictions, with records of 93 acquittals accessible to The Indian Express.
The investigation found alarming patterns, including courts identifying at least 12 instances where the police introduced “artificial” witnesses or evidence deemed “fabricated”. In a couple of cases, witnesses claimed their statements were dictated or altered by police officers. Additionally, many cases seemed to prioritize closing the investigation rather than pursuing justice, with judges noting the “manipulation” of case records.
Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh underscored these concerns, stating that egregious evidence padding by the Investigating Officer (IO) undermined the rights of the accused. This manipulation erodes public faith in the justice system. During the riots in February 2020, which coincided with protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), over 53 lives were lost and more than 700 people were injured.
The cases involving flagged evidence include five from the Dayalpur police station, four each from Khajuri Khas and Gokalpuri, and one each from Jyoti Nagar, Bhajanpura, Jafrabad, and New Usmanpur, all situated in northeast Delhi. Judges from Karkardooma courts flagged numerous irregularities, including failures to conduct Test Identification Parades (TIP), leading to the inference of already known fabricated cases.
In specific rulings, doubts were raised regarding witnesses, such as the existence of one Md. Aslam, and allegations were made that state witnesses were falsely cited or statements prepared belatedly. Orders highlighted the improbability of eye-witness claims, where witnesses appeared to be coached or artificially created.
Noteworthy patterns indicated that officers allegedly showed photographs of already arrested suspects to witnesses, suggesting undue influence to implicate these accused persons. Alarmingly, the courts found probable manipulation in case documentation and emphasized the need for comprehensive accountability within the police to restore public trust in the judicial process.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/express-exclusive/in-17-of-93-acquittals-in-delhi-riots-cases-courts-red-flag-fabricated-evidence-pull-up-police-10254194/
Category: Express Investigations
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-09-17 04:01:00
