Journalism of Courage
Jamia violence: Court asks Delhi Police to explain one-year delay in handing case file to public prosecutor
The special public prosecutor had sought adjournment stating that he was yet to read the file since it was handed over to him only recently.
A Delhi court has asked the deputy commissioner of police, crime branch, to explain a one-year delay in handing over case details to a special public prosecutor appointed in a case connected to the violence that broke out at Jamia Millia Islamia in December 2019.
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The matter was listed for arguments on the charges at the Saket district court. Special public prosecutor Madhukar Pandey had sought adjournment from Additional Sessions Judge Arul Varma stating that he was yet to read the file on this case since it was handed over to him only recently.
The court noted that the matter had been pending since 2019, and the SPP was appointed on July 26, 2021, but the “IO/ACP and DCP did not bring the matter to the notice of SPP”.
“Let copy of this order be sent to concerned DCP crime branch to give explanation as to why the file was not brought to the notice of SPP despite him being appointed,” the court said.
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The court also issued a summons to DCP Rajendra Prasad Meena to remain present to assist the SPP on the next date of the hearing.
The accused persons, including activists Sharjeel Imam, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Sarfoora Zargar and the other accused, Mohd Kasim, Mohd Anwar, Shahzar Raza Khan, Umair Ahmad, Mohd Shoaib, Chanda Yadav, Abuzar and Bilal Nadeem, submitted their written arguments to the court.
Violence broke out near the Jamia Millia Islamia campus during the anti-CAA protests in December 2019 following which security personnel entered the campus. While the police claimed they were chasing rioters, the students alleged they were assaulted inside the library.
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An inquiry was initiated after several videos emerged purportedly showing police assaulting people inside the Jamia library and breaking a CCTV camera and furniture.