Delhi: Court frames arson charges against father, son in 2020 riots case

The complainant, Israfil, alleged that Singh and Kumar were part of a violent mob that was raising slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on February 25, 2020, and set his house ablaze.

Israfil managed to escape by jumping to the roof of Fatima Masjid but the accused started damaging the mosque, alleged the complaint.

The complainant further alleged that Mithhan handed a gas cylinder to his son and exhorted him to throw it towards the mosque.

He alleged that after throwing the cylinder, the duo threw bottles filled with inflammable substances towards the mosque.

The lawyers for the accused had argued for discharge, pointing to the delay in filing witness statements and alleging that they were planted.

The court held that “it cannot be said that the delay in recording statements of these witnesses was intentional or contumacious” and the “truthfulness or otherwise of these witnesses can be assessed only during the trial of this case”.

“The accused cannot claim discharge in this case merely on this score. It appears that the delay in recording the statements of these witnesses was occasioned on account of the situation which prevailed in the area during and after the incident of rioting,” the court said.