Mosque fire: Delhi court pulls up police over ‘hasty’ probe

The court observed that the officer did not investigate the matter and this “shows the callous attitude of the police in investigation”.

Mosque fire: Court pulls up police over ‘hasty’ probe

After the riots. (Express Archive)

A Delhi judge Wednesday pulled up the Delhi Police for its investigation into the burning of a mosque during the riots in Northeast Delhi in February last year, observing that the police proceeded in a “hurried and unholy haste”.

On the last date of hearing in the case, Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav had asked the police to submit a status report and the original DD (Daily Diary) entry of the FIR in which the police claimed to have registered the complaint regarding the arson at Madina Masjid.

The court observed that the officer did not investigate the matter and this “shows the callous attitude of the police in investigation”.

The court has also stayed an order taking cognisance of the chargesheet in the FIR in which the police first claimed they had tagged the arson complaint.

On February 25 last year, rioters allegedly broke into the mosque in Shiv Vihar after a power cut in the area and set two LPG cylinders kept inside on fire, causing an explosion. A saffron flag was later planted atop the mosque, allegedly by a local, who has been named in the complaint along with two others.

When ASJ Yadav asked Assistant Sub-Inspector Suman, who was first handed over the case by the SHO, as to what investigation he did, the officer told the court that he had contracted coronavirus at the time.

The judge then asked what he did during the time period when he did not have the virus. “Did you write the DD entry? What did you do in the case? Who all were interrogated? Your tongue has vanished now?” ASJ Yadav said.
ASI Suman told the court, “I did not do anything.”

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ASJ Yadav said, “Should I write to the Police Commissioner? That in riot cases (where) an accused has been named, our officers have thought that investigation was not necessary?”

ASI Suman said, “Sorry, sir.”

ASJ Yadav said, “How many days has the complainant whom you have arrested stayed in jail? Who will answer for it?”
The complainant, Hashim Ali, was arrested in connection with arson at a local’s house. The police had tagged Hashim’s complaint with that of the local’s complaint and claimed it was part of the chargesheet. However, one year later, the police told the court that Hashim’s complaint was in fact registered as a separate FIR.

The court had then asked police to submit the original DD entry of this FIR and pulled them up noting that the statement of witnesses was recorded after the court hearing.

Advocate M R Shamshad, who filed the application in court on behalf of Hashim Ali, has sought direction to police to register a separate FIR into the arson at the mosque as this particular incident was clubbed with another FIR, making it “irrelevant”.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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