Court frames arson charges against two

| | New Delhi
  • 0

Court frames arson charges against two

Tuesday, 23 November 2021 | PTI | New Delhi

A Delhi court has framed charges of arson and rioting against a father-son duo for allegedly damaging and setting a mosque on fire, vandalism, and stone-pelting during the February 2020 riots.

Mithhan Singh and his son Jony Kumar are accused of allegedly being part of a violent mob that raised slogans “Jai Shree Ram” and damaged the mosque in Delhi’s Khajuri Khas area on February 25, 2020, as per the complainant.

Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat framed charges under requisite sections against the two accused and explained it to them in vernacular in the presence of their lawyers, to which they pleaded not guilty and claimed trial in the case. 

The judge, in an order dated November 20, also rejected the argument put forth by the counsel of the accused that they are entitled to be discharged in the case as there was a delay in reporting of incident and recording of statements of the witnesses.

He said that accused cannot claim discharge merely on this score. The court said that the delay in recording witnesses’ statements was not intentional and was occasioned on account of the situation which prevailed in the area during and after the incident of rioting. “There was an atmosphere of terror and trauma which prevailed in the area for several days even after the riots.

In these circumstances, the delay of about one week in reporting the incident to the police would appear justified and cannot be considered fatal to the prosecution case at this stage,” the court further said.    

As per complainant Mithhan Singh and his son Jony Kumar were allegedly part of the violent mob that raised slogans of “Jai Shree Ram” on February 25, 2020, near his house and set it ablaze.

Sunday Edition

CAA PASSPORT TO FREEDOM

24 March 2024 | Kumar Chellappan | Agenda

CHENNAI EXPRESS IN GURUGRAM

24 March 2024 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

The Way of Bengal

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

The Pizza Philosopher

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

Astroturf | Lord Shiva calls for all-inclusiveness

24 March 2024 | Bharat Bhushan Padmadeo | Agenda

Interconnected narrative l Forest conservation l Agriculture l Food security

24 March 2024 | BKP Sinha/ Arvind K jha | Agenda