Court Acquits 12 Accused in 2020 Delhi Riots Murder Case

In a significant ruling, a Delhi court has acquitted twelve individuals accused of kidnapping and murdering a man during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The judge highlighted the prosecution's failure to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt, citing major inconsistencies in eyewitness accounts and weak evidence. The accused were charged with serious offenses, including murder and rioting, but were granted the benefit of the doubt, leading to their release. This case sheds light on the complexities of legal proceedings in the aftermath of communal violence.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 27, 2026, 18:11 IST

Judicial Ruling on Delhi Riots Case

A court in Delhi has acquitted twelve individuals accused of kidnapping and murdering a man during the riots in northeast Delhi in 2020. The judge stated that the prosecution failed to establish the case beyond reasonable doubt due to significant contradictions in eyewitness testimonies and weak supporting evidence.

The case was presided over by Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh, who dealt with the accused including Lokesh Solanki, Pankaj Sharma, Sumit Chaudhary alias Badshah, Ankit Chaudhary alias Fauji, Prince alias DJ Wala, Rishabh Chaudhary alias Tapas, Jatin Sharma alias Rohit, Vivek Panchal alias Nandu, Himanshu Thakur, Sahil alias Babu, Sandeep alias Mowgli, and Tinku Arora.

In an order dated April 21, the court remarked, "The prosecution has failed to prove its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt, and the accused are entitled to the benefit of the doubt." Consequently, all defendants were acquitted of the charges against them.

All accused were arrested in connection with the case involving the death of Musharraf, whose body was discovered in a drain in Bhagirathi Vihar amidst widespread communal violence on February 27, 2020.

The prosecution alleged that on the night of February 25, a mob of 150-200 people forcibly entered Musharraf's residence, dragged him out, assaulted him, and subsequently disposed of his body in a drain.

Charges against the accused included murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, kidnapping, destruction of evidence, and promoting enmity.