New Delhi: A court in Delhi has ordered the registration of an FIR and further investigation against Law and Justice Minister and BJP leader Kapil Mishra over his ‘involvement in the 2020 Northeast Delhi violence.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia granted the plea of complainant Mohammad Ilyas, a resident of Yamuna Vihar, who sought an FIR against Mishra, the then SHO of Dayalpur police station, and five others, including BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht and former legislator Jagdish Pradhan. The court observed that a cognisable offence was made out against Mishra.
The communal violence that erupted in Northeast Delhi between February 24 and 26, 2020, resulted in 53 deaths, over 500 injuries, and significant property damage.
Earlier this year, the Delhi Police had opposed the complaint, arguing that Mishra was being “framed” and that investigations found no incriminating evidence against him. Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad told the court that Mishra’s role had already been examined in the larger conspiracy case related to the riots.
Ilyas, represented by advocate Mehmood Pracha, alleged that he witnessed Mishra and others blocking a road in Kardampuri and damaging vendors’ carts. He also claimed that the then Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Northeast Delhi was present alongside Mishra and other officers, warning protesters to vacate the area or face consequences. Additionally, Ilyas accused the former Dayalpur SHO, along with BJP leaders Pradhan and Bisht, of vandalizing mosques across Northeast Delhi.
Separately, in March, a magistrate court announced that it would hear arguments regarding charges against Mishra in another case under the Representation of the People Act (RPA), accusing him of promoting communal enmity during the 2020 Delhi Assembly Elections.
