DelhiRiotsCase – High Court Clears Way for Trial Court Decision
DelhiRiotsCase – Legal Proceedings Update and Delhi Riots Investigation Developments – The Delhi High Court has removed an earlier restriction that had prevented a trial court from delivering its final decision on charges in the alleged larger conspiracy case linked to the 2020 Delhi riots.
The order was issued on Friday by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, who had previously directed in September 2024 that arguments on the framing of charges could continue before the trial court, but no final ruling should be pronounced until further orders. With the latest decision, that restriction has now been withdrawn, allowing the lower court to proceed with its final determination.
Court Rejects Request for Additional Records
In a separate development, the High Court dismissed an application filed by activist Devangana Kalita, one of the accused in the case. Kalita had sought access to video footage of protests held against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), material that forms part of the prosecution’s case. She had also requested WhatsApp conversations from police groups that were allegedly connected to the investigation.
The court, however, declined to grant these requests. During the hearing, Kalita’s legal counsel urged the court to continue the stay on the trial court’s final order, arguing that she intended to challenge the matter before the Supreme Court. Justice Krishna declined the request, indicating that the stay would not be extended.
Relief Granted on Inspection of Documents
While rejecting part of Kalita’s plea, the High Court provided limited relief on another application. The court directed authorities to allow her to inspect documents that were not relied upon by investigators but remain stored as part of the case records.
These materials are reportedly kept in the police station malkhana, a designated storage facility where seized items, evidence, and case-related property are preserved. The inspection order enables the accused to review those records as part of the ongoing legal process.
Transfer Plea Raised by Delhi Police
The latest ruling comes shortly after the Delhi Police approached Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya on June 4, seeking the transfer of the matter from Justice Krishna’s bench.
According to the police submission, orders had been reserved in January on Kalita’s request concerning video recordings and police WhatsApp communications, but a final judgment had not yet been delivered. The police argued that the delay exceeded the timeline prescribed by the Supreme Court for matters in which judgments have already been reserved.
The transfer request drew attention to procedural concerns regarding the disposal of pending orders, particularly in cases involving significant public interest and extensive legal proceedings.
Case Continues Through Judicial Process
The alleged larger conspiracy case related to the 2020 Delhi riots remains one of the most closely watched legal matters arising from the violence that affected several parts of the national capital. The proceedings involve multiple accused persons and extensive documentary and electronic evidence gathered during the investigation.
With the High Court now lifting the earlier restriction, the trial court is expected to move forward and issue its decision regarding the framing of charges, marking another important stage in the long-running judicial process.