Delhi Riots: 11 Muslims Acquitted in Dilbar Negi Murder Case

New Delhi: Today, the court acquitted eleven individuals, including Muhammad Faisal, Rashid, Ashraf, Rashid alias Raja, Shahrukh, Shoaib alias Chotowa, and Muhammad Tahir, who were accused in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. They were charged with the killing of 22-year-old Dilbar Negi, an employee at a sweet shop in Gokulpuri, Northeast Delhi.

The Delhi Police had registered a case against them, including Section 302 of the IPC, at Gokulpuri police station. A charge sheet was filed on June 4, 2020. Dilbar Negi, originally from Uttarakhand, tragically lost his life when a mob attacked the sweet shop during the riots. He was subjected to a horrifying ordeal where his limbs were severed, and the shop was set ablaze, ultimately leading to his demise. His partially burnt body was discovered in the shop.

During the trial, the Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) criticized the police for their handling of the case, asserting that they displayed negligence in a case of such gravity. The court stated that innocent individuals had been apprehended while the actual wrongdoers remained at large.

Lawyers from Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind argued that the allegations against their clients were unfounded, a fact acknowledged by the court even during the bail proceedings. They maintained that the police adhered to an unjust narrative.
Maulana Mahmood Asad Madani, the President of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, commended the efforts of the lawyers and expressed optimism that the innocent would soon be exonerated. He expressed deep sorrow over the tragic fate of Dilbar Negi.

Maulana Niaz Ahmed Farooqi, the legal affairs supervisor of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, revealed that, to date, 33 individuals linked to the Delhi riots have been acquitted with dignity, thanks to the persistent endeavors of Jamiat Ulema Hind. Additionally, 584 people were granted bail prior to their trials.