Two years since the Northeast Delhi riots, the 758 cases registered to probe the violence are lingering on — investigation in 50% of the FIRs is still pending and trial has commenced only in at least 25% of the cases where police have filed chargesheets against the accused.
In the data submitted to Delhi High Court on January 27, police had said chargesheets have been filed in 367 cases and the investigation was pending in 384. While cancellation has been filed in three cases, four FIRs were quashed by the High Court last year. In at least 235 out of the 367 cases where chargesheets have been filed, police said the supplementary investigation remains pending.
Between October 2021 and January 2022, police had filed chargesheets in only six cases.
As many as 695 out of the total 758 are being investigated by Northeast Delhi police. Sixty-two cases were transferred to the Crime Branch and three dedicated SITs have been set up to probe them.
The Crime Branch has been probing murder cases connected to the riots. Investigation has been completed in a majority of those cases. While investigation is pending in eight of the cases alleging offence under IPC Section 302 (punishment for murder), chargesheets have been filed in 37.
In the main case alleging larger conspiracy behind the riots, chargesheets have been filed against several student activists but according to the Special Cell, the supplementary investigation continues to remain pending in it as well.
