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– Photo: News Desk, Amar Ujala, Indore
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The Karkardooma court acquitted an accused in a North-East Delhi riots case, giving him the benefit of doubt. The court pulled up the Delhi Police for projecting the complainant as a false witness.
Karkardooma Court’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Shirish Agarwal also did not trust the testimony of the police witness. The court said that it appears that his statement was prepared falsely and belatedly to settle the matter.
The court also questioned the identity of Noor Mohammad, a head constable who claimed to be an eyewitness to the alleged riot. The court observed that it is difficult to understand how a policeman who could be courageous enough to try to stop the mob stood there as a mute spectator when the rioting and looting was taking place.
No explanation was given by the said witness, he just stood there watching and waiting, he did not even think it fit to video the crime being committed even though he was at a relatively safe distance.
According to the prosecution, the complainant Mohd. Rashid Khajuri came to the Khas police station and identified Noor Mohammad as one of the people who ransacked his shop and was part of the mob. Noor Mohammad was already present at the police station and was being questioned in another case. The statement of the complainant was recorded on April 2, 2020 and Noor Mohammad was arrested on the same day.
However, during the trial, the complainant was declared a hostile witness by the prosecution. In fact the complainant refused to identify Noor Mohammad as the culprit. The complainant denied that Noor Mohammad was arrested in his presence or that he had identified him at the police station on April 2, 2020.