Yesterday, Delhi Court discharged three accused of the offence of setting up houses and public shops during the Delhi riots in 2020. 

However, the Court directed that the accused will face trial for other offences, including rioting and being members of an unlawful assembly.

The bench of Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala was hearing the case against Neeraj, Manish and Krishan, who were charged with various offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including sections 147 (rioting) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house etc.).

“All the three accused persons … are discharged of the offence punishable under section 436 of the IPC. Since other alleged offences are triable by the metropolitan magistrate, therefore, the case is remanded back to the chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM), northeast district … to proceed further in accordance with the law in respect of the other alleged offences,” the judge said.

The judge noted that the initial chargesheet in the case was filed on the basis of 13 complaints received by police but subsequently, 10 complaints were allowed to be taken back due to the difference in the time and place of incidents and at present, only three complaints remain for prosecution.