News Analysis India

Tag: Delhi police

  • Delhi riots: Failure to conduct proper probe will torment sentinels of democracy, says court

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A court here on Thursday came down heavily on the Delhi Police for its probe into a 2020 riots case, saying that its failure to conduct a proper investigation will “torment” the sentinels of democracy when history will look back at the worst communal riots in the national capital since partition.

    The court, which discharged former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain’s brother Shah Alam and two others in a case related to alleged loot and vandalization of a shop during the riots in February 2020 at Delhi’s Chand Bagh area, also called the probe “callous and indolent” which gives an impression that a constable was planted as a witness.

    Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav called the case a colossal wastage of the hard-earned money of taxpayers in which the police merely tried to pull the wool over the court’s eyes and nothing else.

    The court noted that there was no CCTV footage of the incident to confirm the presence of the accused at the spot, no independent eye witness, and no evidence regarding the criminal conspiracy.

    I am not able to restrain myself from observing that when history will look back at the worst communal riots since partition in Delhi, it is failure of investigating agency to conduct proper investigation by using latest scientific methods will surely torment the sentinels of democracy, the judge said.

    He further pointed out that the case seemed to have been solved merely by filing the charge sheet without any real effort to trace out the eye witnesses, real accused persons, and technical evidence.

    Furthermore, the court said that the probe lacked sensitivity and skillfulness.

    This court cannot permit such cases to meander mindlessly in the corridors of judicial system, sweeping away precious judicial time of this court when the same is open and shut case, the judge observed.

    The court said that after investigating this matter for so long, the police presented only five witnesses — the victim, Duty Officer, formal witness, investigating officer (IO), and a constable, who had identified the three accused.

    The judge said that the delay on the part of the constable to report the incident gives an impression that he has been planted in the case.

    He said that no real or effective investigation has been carried out and the police have just tried to show the case as solved merely by recording the statement of the constable, that too at a belated stage.

    The evidence brought on record by the investigating agency in the case in hand miserably falls short for framing charges against the accused persons.

    Accordingly, all the three accused persons are discharged from the case, the court added.

    Alam’s brother Tahir Hussain was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case and is currently in judicial custody.

    He is also an accused in several other cases.

  • Probe underway in Rs 200-crore extortion racket case; 23 officials transferred, FIRs logded

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police has extended its investigation into the case related to extortion of over Rs 200 crore, by Rohini jail inmate Sukesh Chandrasekar for allegedly duping wives of former Religare promoters Malvinder and Shivinder Singh, who are currently in Tihar jail.

    At least two separate FIRs have been registered in the case so far and 23 Deputy Superintendents have been transferred on August 17.

    Investigation revealed that the accused Sukesh Chandrasekar had duped Shivinder’s wife Aditi Singh and Malvinder’s wife Japna Singh worth over several crores of rupees. The women claimed that they have paid crores of rupees to the conman to secure bail for their husbands and ensure their safety, posing as an officer from the Union Law Ministry.

    The investigation team is now collecting details of his earlier cases of fraud and impersonation and are planning to book him under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

    “I was assured that the central government would be interested to work with my husband after making him an ‘industry advisor’ on Covid-related committees; he asked me to contribute to the ‘party fund’ and assured to set up a meeting either with the former law minister or home minister,” Aditi Singh alleged in her FIR.

    While according to Japna Singh, she paid a total of Rs 3.5 crore to Hong Kong-based account on July 28, 29, 30, and August 6, and has shared proof of the transactions.Afterwards, the police laid a trap and arrested two of his accomplices, Pradeep and Deepak, between August 7 and 8.

    Additional CP Singh had earlier said that the matter is quite sensitive and he had arrested Sukesh from Rohini jail; his two associates Pradeep Ramdanee and Deepak Ramnani; two jail officials, deputy superintendent Subhash Batra and assistant jail superintendent Dharam Singh Meena; and three men, Komal Poddar, who is a manager at RBL in Connaught Place, and his two associates Avinash Kumar and Jitender Narula. 

  • NHRC writes to UP, Delhi Police, seeks report on sexual assault of woman

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of a complaint of an alleged sexual assault of a woman and has written to Uttar Pradesh Police and Delhi Police seeking a detailed report within four weeks in the matter, along with the action initiated against the errant public servants.

    She had set herself on fire allegedly along with a man outside the Supreme Court in New Delhi on August 16, 2021. Subsequently, both died while undergoing treatment in RML Hospital.

    As per the official release by NHRC, the Commission had issued notices to the Director-General of Police, Uttar Pradesh and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to submit a detailed report within four weeks in the matter, along with the action initiated against the errant public servants.

    The DGP, Uttar Pradesh has also been directed to ensure the safety and security of the family members of the victims.

    Issuing the notices, the Commission has observed that it is shocking how an alleged victim of sexual assault was feeling victimized by the system.

    Allegedly, before immolating themselves, they recorded a Facebook live video, wherein the woman said that in June 2019, she had lodged a rape case against an MP from Uttar Pradesh, but the accused police officials were supporting the offender.

    Also, allegedly, instead of taking action against the accused MP, the police registered a false case against her and got issued a non-bailable warrant against her. 

  • 14 held, online racket busted by Delhi Police in Jharkhand’s Jamtara

    By ANI

    JAMTARA (JHARKHAND): Fourteen persons were arrested by the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police from Jamtara in Jharkhand on Tuesday on allegations of online fraud.

    According to the Delhi Police, a raid was conducted in Jamtara from where these 14 accused have been arrested.

    “They targetted bank executives and sometimes pretended to provide offers from e-shopping companies,” the police said.

    As per the police, the 14 arrested accused include prime suspects Ghulam Ansari and Altaf.

    “Property worth Rs 2 crore and SUV worth Rs 20 lakh have been seized from the accused,” said the Delhi Police. 

  • Why no FIR against Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra in Delhi riots case, asks UAPA accused

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Jamia Millia Islamia Alumni Association President Shifa-Ur-Rehman, who was arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the Delhi riots asked in the court on Tuesday why no FIR was registered against Union Minister Anurag Thakur, BJP leader Kapil Mishra, and others for allegedly instigating riots.

    During the bail hearing, Shifa’s lawyer, Abhishek Singh, showed Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat a complaint filed by him on January 30, 2020, seeking registration of FIR against Thakur, Mishra, another BJP leader Parvesh Sharma, and Jamia Shooter Ram Bhakt Gopal for allegedly ‘instigating riots’.

    “Did the prosecution even bother to call them as witnesses or accused or issue a notice that we want to know something? Because they said ‘shoot xyz’ so they know who those people are. They will at least have some evidence. Why was no FIR registered against them? This was the complaint I was pursuing,” Singh said.

    ALSO READ | Delhi riots: Police told to submit status update of trials

    According to the complaint, as read by the lawyer in the court, Shifa mentioned that Mishra took out a rally in which slogans to shoot were raised, following which Thakur on January 28, 2020, said: “desh ke gaddaron ko….”

    In January 2020, Thakur had allegedly egged on participants of an election rally to raise an incendiary slogan.

    While the minister raised the slogan “Desh ke gaddaron ko…..(the traitors of the country)”, the crowd responded by chanting: “Goli maaro saalon ko…..(shoot them).”

    shifa is accused of collecting money to fund various sit-in protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

    He, along with several others, has been booked under the anti-terror law in the case for being the “masterminds” of the February 2020 violence, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.

    Alluding to the alleged funding, the lawyer affirmed that Shifa had made “some financial arrangements” but questioned whether paying some protestors make it an offence under the stringent UAPA.

    Advocate Singh further emphasized that being a member or president of the alumni association or a protester is not an offence as people are entitled to their opinion and can peacefully protest against anything.

    ​ALSO READ | Umar Khalid calls Delhi riots conspiracy case ‘cooked up’, points to contradictions

    “Why have I been roped in? I fail to understand. There is a fundamental right to protest. If a certain section of society is aggrieved by certain legislation and protest against it, that is not a crime. They can protest,” the lawyer told the court.

    Furthermore, Shifa’s counsel sought bail for him saying that there has been a systematic violation of his fundamental rights and that he cannot be put in the bracket of rioters.

    He also read his WhatsApp chats to show that there was no instigation of violence.

    Besides him, former JNU student leader Umar Khalid, JNU students Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar, former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and several others have also been booked under the stringent law in the case.

  • Ramdas Athawale demands capital punishment for those behind 9-year-old Dalit girl’s rape and murder

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Thursday demanded capital punishment for those behind the alleged rape and murder of a nine-year-old Dalit girl in Delhi and said he will take up the matter with Home Minister Amit Shah.

    Athawale also met the family of the girl and assured them of all possible assistance.

    “Met the family of the girl and assured them of all possible help. I will also meet Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the matter and ensure justice for her. Those behind the heinous crime must be hanged, this is the demand of the RPI (Republican Party of India),” Athawale tweeted in Hindi.

    In a statement, Athawale, who is also the president of the RPI, demanded strict action against police if some negligence is found on their part.

    ALSO READ | Minor girl rape: Police clear one carriageway of road near Delhi Cantt amid protests

    The girl, according to police, died under mysterious circumstances when she went to get water from a cooler at a crematorium in the Old Nangal area in southwest Delhi.

    Her parents have alleged that she was raped and her body was forcibly cremated by a crematorium priest who had falsely claimed that she was electrocuted.

    Hundreds of locals, including the victim’s parents, have been staging a protest near the site of the incident, demanding capital punishment for the convicts.

    Police had on Monday said that based on the statement of the victim’s mother, rape charges have been added in the FIR.

    Four people, including the priest, have been arrested.

    The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has also launched an inquiry into the incident.

  • Toolkit case: Have not leaked Disha Ravi’s info to media, Police tells Delhi High Court

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Police Thursday told the Delhi High Court that it has not leaked any information to the media in relation to its probe in the FIR against climate activist Disha Ravi for her alleged involvement in sharing a toolkit backing the ongoing farmers’ protest.

    The court was hearing Ravi’s plea to restrain police from leaking to the media any probe material in relation to the FIR lodged against her.

    Justice Rekha Palli said keeping in view that the petition raises an important question of public importance, it be listed for arguments on September 27.

    Advocate Rajat Nair, representing the Delhi Police, submitted that the leak has not happened from their end.

    The police, in its response filed through advocate Amit Mahajan, said the allegation that the information of chats of Ravi has been leaked by the police is “false and factually incorrect”.

    The affidavit, filed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Cell Unit) of Special Cell Anyesh Roy, said no information or document forming part of the case file including the subject chats have been shared by the police with any media house or individual except the information communicated officially through press briefing or broadcast, which is a matter of record.

    ALSO READ | Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea on ‘Toolkit’, petitioner withdraws it

    The court was informed by the senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Ravi, that the pleadings in the case are complete.

    He said while Ravi was in custody, her private chats were leaked to the media.

    While the police claim it has not leaked it, the media clearly says they got it from the police, he argued, adding that some protection or guidelines need to be considered in this regard.

    Ravi was arrested by Delhi Police on February 13 for allegedly being involved in sharing on social media a “toolkit” related to the ongoing farmers’ protest against the Centre’s three new agri laws, and was granted bail by a trial court here on February 23.

    In her petition before the high court, she has also sought to restrain the media from publishing the content or extract of any private chats, including those on WhatsApp, between her and third parties.

    Ravi, in her plea, has said she is “severely aggrieved and prejudiced by the media trial surrounding her arrest and the ongoing investigation, where she is being viscerally attacked by the respondent 1 (police) and several media houses”.

    She has claimed that her arrest from Bengaluru on February 13 by a Cyber Cell team of Delhi Police was “wholly unlawfully and without basis”.

    She has also contended that in the present circumstances, it was “highly likely” that the general public will perceive the news items “as being conclusive as to the guilt of the petitioner (Ravi)”.

    She has claimed that the police first “leaked investigative material” — like alleged WhatsApp chats — the substance and details of which were only in the possession of the investigating agency.

    The high court had on February 19 said certain media coverage of investigation into the FIR against Ravi for her alleged involvement in sharing a toolkit backing farmers’ protest indicates “sensationalism and prejudicial reporting”, but declined to order removal of any such content at this stage.

    The issue of removal of content which was already in public domain shall be considered at a later stage, it had said.

    The high court, in an earlier order, had asked media houses to ensure that no leaked investigation material is broadcast as it could affect the probe and directed Delhi Police to abide by its stand on affidavit that it has not leaked nor intends to leak any probe details to the press.

    The police had earlier also placed an affidavit categorically denying leaking of any information to the media.

    It also assured the court that it had no intention of leaking any information to the media.

    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had said the petition was not maintainable as no complaint was first made to it for taking action against any TV channel or media house for any alleged incorrect reporting of the case.

  • No one arrested for 2020 violence at JNU, says Government in Lok Sabha

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has not arrested anyone in connection with the 2020 violence at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) even though several people were examined, Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

    Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the Delhi Police has reported that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Crime Branch has been constituted to investigate three cases registered at Vasant Kunj (North) police station with regard to the violence on the JNU campus in January, 2020.

    “The investigation conducted includes examination of witnesses; collection and analysis of footages; and examination of identified suspects. As reported by the Delhi Police, no arrest has been made in these cases,” he said, replying to a written question of DMK member Dayanidhi Maran.

  • Disclosing names of people booked by Delhi Police under UAPA not in larger public interest: Centre

    Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai informed Lok Sabha in a written reply that the Delhi Police has registered nine cases under the law and arrested 34 people during 2020.

  • Delhi Police arrests managing director of firm from Mumbai in Rs 100 crore cheating case

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The managing director of a firm was arrested from Mumbai by Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing in a 2018 case related to cheating, forgery, and criminal misappropriation of approximately Rs 100 crore, police said on Sunday.

    Accused Ramchand Karunakaran, who played a prominent role in siphoning off funds, was one of the directors of IL&FS Rail Ltd and the managing director of IL&FS Transportation Network Ltd, they said.

    Police said he was arrested in Mumbai on July 20.

    He was produced in court and remanded to police custody for further investigation in the case.

    According to police, a case was registered in 2018 on the complaint of Ashish Begwani, Director of Enso Infrastructures (P) Ltd, who alleged that in August 2010, he was approached by the directors of IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd for an investment.

    Allured by their promises, his company invested Rs 170 crore in IL&FS Rail Ltd in order to take 15 per cent stake in IL&FS Rail Ltd, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Gurgaon Rapid Metro project.

    Additional Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences Wing) R K Singh said, “Over a period of time, the complainant observed that the company is not performing profitably and funds are being misused.

    “It is alleged that bogus contract orders worth Rs 21.88 crore were issued to a firm named Silverpoint Infratech Ltd but no work was executed by this company. The invoices raised by the Silverpoint Infratech Ltd were forged and fabricated. IL&FS Rail Ltd did this to inflate its expenditure and show less profit in its books,” he said.

    The officer said It is alleged by the complainant that the directors of the alleged company IL&FS Rail Ltd and other officers of the company intentionally siphoned off the funds of the company to the tune of Rs about 70 crore causing loss to their firm.

    “During the investigation, it was found that the accused had made payments to several companies without executing any work. They could not give any satisfactory reply about the contracts awarded to the questioned companies,” Singh said.

    “It is also found that no estimate was taken, no name and address of any of the contractors was given or kept in record. Money was routed through several layers of the different shell companies,” Singh added.