Delhi High Court Directs Police to File Status Report on Devangana Kalita’s Plea in Delhi Riots Case
Delhi High Court Directs Police to File Status Report on Devangana Kalita’s Plea in Delhi Riots Case
.jpg)
The Delhi High Court has instructed the Delhi Police to submit a status report on a plea filed by Devangana Kalita, seeking access to protest videos recorded at Jafrabad in connection with the Delhi riots case. The order was issued by Justice Sanjeev Narula, following submissions made by Advocate Adit S. Pujari on behalf of Kalita.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 23, 2025.
Kalita’s Plea: Demand for Video Footage from Delhi Police
Kalita’s legal team argues that:
🔹 Selective video evidence has been used by the prosecution while not providing the full video recordings to the accused.
🔹 The videos will prove that the protest at Jafrabad was peaceful and counter the allegations against her.
🔹 Seizure memos list these videos as evidence, yet they have not been shared with the defense despite four years passing since the incident.
Delhi Police’s Stand: Maintainability of the Petition Questioned
Appearing for the Delhi Police, Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Madhukar Pandey opposed the plea, arguing:
📌 The maintainability of the petition should be examined before considering its merits.
📌 Kalita’s legal team approached the High Court a year after the rejection of their initial application in August 2023.
📌 The videos were recorded by persons hired by Delhi Police, and the Seizure Memo was filed along with the charge sheet.
The High Court had earlier refused to stay proceedings at the trial court, emphasizing that the case must go through the judicial process.
Background: Devangana Kalita & the Delhi Riots Case
Devangana Kalita, a student activist and co-founder of Pinjra Tod, was arrested in May 2020 under multiple charges related to the anti-CAA protests and the Delhi riots of February 2020.
📍 She was accused of inciting violence and participating in a conspiracy linked to the riots in Jafrabad.
📍 The Delhi Police charged her under UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), among other serious offenses.
📍 Kalita has consistently denied the allegations, claiming the protests were peaceful demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The prosecution maintains that her speeches and actions contributed to the riots, while her defense argues that she was exercising her democratic right to protest.
What Happened in the Jafrabad Protest?
The Jafrabad protest was part of a larger wave of anti-CAA demonstrations that began in December 2019.
🚨 February 22, 2020 – Women protesters occupied a road in Jafrabad, a Muslim-majority area in northeast Delhi, against the CAA-NRC policies.
🚨 February 23, 2020 – BJP leader Kapil Mishra gave a controversial speech near the protest site, warning of action if the protestors weren’t removed.
🚨 February 24-25, 2020 – Communal clashes erupted, leading to 53 deaths and over 200 injuries.
Kalita was arrested for allegedly being part of a larger conspiracy to incite the riots, but she insists that the protests were non-violent.
Conclusion: A Legal Battle for Transparency
Kalita’s case is a high-profile legal battle involving questions of justice, transparency, and the right to protest. While the Delhi Police insists on her role in the riots, her defense argues that withholding video evidence weakens due process.
With the next hearing scheduled for April 23, 2025, all eyes are on the Delhi High Court to see whether it will compel the police to release the full video evidence and ensure fair proceedings.
💬 Do you think all video evidence should be made public for a fair trial? Share your thoughts! 👇
Comments
Post a Comment