Delhi Court Acquits Two Individuals in 2020 Northeast Delhi Riots Case

Court Ruling on Northeast Delhi Riots

A court in Delhi has acquitted two individuals of all charges related to the riots that occurred in Northeast Delhi in 2020, citing the prosecution's failure to establish a case against them.

Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh declared Prashant Malhotra and Gaurav not guilty, who were accused of being part of a mob that set fire to a shop and engaged in arson and vandalism in the Chand Bagh area on February 24, 2020.

In an order dated December 24, 2025, the court stated that the prosecution did not prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, concluding that the accused are entitled to the benefit of the doubt. Consequently, both defendants were acquitted of all charges against them.

The two were arrested following a complaint lodged by the owner of a fruit shop in Chand Bagh, who alleged that the mob had set fire to his shop and home. The identification of the accused was made by two police officers based on viral videos of the riots.

The court noted that the video referenced by the prosecution was not related to the incident in question and did not substantiate the charges against the accused. An FIR was registered at Khajuri Khas police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 427 (causing damage), 435 (mischief by fire), 436 (mischief by fire or explosion with intent to destroy), and 34 (common intention).