N-E Delhi riots: Court puts ex-MCD councillor Ishrat Jahan, 12 others on trial for attempt to murder

New Delhi [India], April 29 : Delhi's Karkardooma Court has put ex-MCD councillor and lawyer Ishrat Jahan and 12 other accused including Khalid Saifi on trial for the offences of attempt to murder and rioting. This case pertains to an FIR lodged at Police Station Jagat Puri in 2020.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai on Monday formally framed the charges under sections related to rioting and attempt to murder against 13 persons including Jahan.
All the accused persons denied the charges and claimed a trial. The court has listed the matter for recording of prosecution evidence on July 29.
On January 19, 2024, Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat passed an order of charges under the section of attempt to murder and rioting.
"There are grounds for presuming that accused persons have committed offences under Section 147/148/186/188/332/353/307 IPC read with Section 149 IPC," ASJ Rawat said in the order of January 19.
In this case accused are Ishrat Jahan, Khalid Saifi, Vikram Pratap, Samir Ansari, Mohd. Salim, Sabu Ansari, Iqbal Ahmed, Anzaar, Mohd. Ilyas, Mohd. Bilal Saifi, Salim Ahmed, Mohd. Yameen and Sharif Khan.
However, the court discharged the accused persons from the offences of common intention, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act.
The court said that All accused persons are discharged for the offences under Section 34 IPC, 120-B IPC, 109 IPC & 25/27 Arms Act. Isharat Jahan is also an accused in the larger conspiracy case and is out on bail.
Special public prosecutor RCS Bhadoriya had argued that the present case inter alia relates to the CAA protest at Khureji Khas and to maintain law and order arrangement, on 26.02.2020, a flag march was done in the area of Khureji Khas and at about 12.15 PM, the police party reached at Masjidwali Gali, Khureji Khas and asked the crowd to disburse as Section 144 Cr.PC was imposed in the area and assembly had been declared unlawful. The prosecution also argued that despite that the crowd refused to abide by the order.
Accused Ishrat Jahan along with Khalid, Sabu Ansari, Bilal, Sharif Khan, Sameer Pradhan, Mohd. Salim, Hazi Iqbal, Yamin, Anzar, Vikram Pratap and others (who were identified by Beat Staff) abet the crowd to not leaving the area and also abet throwing stones at the police force. The crowd started protesting and throwing stones at the police party. Even firing also took place at the place of the incident towards police force, the Prosecution alleged.
The protesters also manhandled the police officials in the said incident. Constable Vinod was injured and admitted to hospital. To control the situation, fire and tear gas in the air were fired by the police party, it alleged.
Delhi police also said that from the place of offence, stones, iron-rod, wooden sticks, five empty cartridges were recovered. On which the mob started to run. However, the accused. persons namely Ishrat Jahan, Khalid and Sabu Ansari were apprehended by the police.
On the same day, at night, other co-accused namely Vikram Pratap, Md. Salim and CCL were arrested who had run away from the spot. One desi katta was recovered from the possession of CCL who disclosed that he used this katta to fire upon a police party and ran away from the spot.