delhi-riots-2020-court-reserves-order-against-kapil-mishra

A Delhi court has reserved its order on a plea seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Delhi Law Minister Kapil Mishra over his alleged role in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots.

 

The Rouse Avenue court, presided over by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Vaibhav Chaurasia, heard arguments on Thursday and listed the matter for order or clarification on 24 March.

 

The plea, filed by Mohammad Ilyas, a resident of Yamuna Vihar, calls for an FIR against Mishra, along with the then Station House Officer (SHO) of Dayalpur Police Station and five others, including BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht and former BJP legislators Jagdish Pradhan and Satpal Sansad.

 

Delhi Police opposed the plea, stating that Mishra’s role had already been examined as part of the broader investigation into the riots. The special cell submitted that there was no evidence linking him to the violence.

 

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Amit Prasad, representing the police, was granted five days to submit a soft copy of the investigation report of FIR No. 59/2020 from the Crime Branch.

 

The complainant, represented by Advocate Mehmood Pracha, alleged that on 23 February 2020, he saw Mishra and his associates blocking a road in Kardam Puri. It is claimed that senior police officers were present at the scene alongside Mishra.

 

During the hearing, SPP Amit Prasad referred to messages exchanged in the Delhi Protest Support Group (DPSG) chat, stating that road blockades were planned as early as 15 and 17 February 2020.

 

He further claimed that the police investigation had uncovered a deliberate attempt to shift blame onto Mishra.

 

On 3 September, the court had sought a response from Delhi Police, which was later submitted by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast).

 

The report asserted that the complainant’s claims had already been addressed in multiple FIRs filed at different police stations.

 

The officer maintained that Mishra’s role had been thoroughly examined as part of the special cell’s broader investigation into the alleged conspiracy behind the riots.

 

In its response, the police stated that messages circulating on the DPSG WhatsApp group were aimed at spreading false claims that violence had been instigated by a mob led by Mishra.

 

The case remains under judicial review, with the court expected to deliver its order later in March.