A court in New Delhi acquitted a man accused of rioting and arson during the 2020 Delhi riots, citing serious inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case and ruling that it would be unsafe to rely on the testimony of a single identifying witness.
Delhi riots case: Court acquits man accused of arson and riotsAdditional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh heard the case against accused Faizan alias Aryan, who was accused of setting fire to Arun Modern Public Senior Secondary School on Brijpuri Road during the 2020 Delhi riots, and granted him the benefit of the doubt.
In an order dated January 28, the court stated, “Considering these facts and circumstances, I find that it would be extremely dangerous to rely solely on the testimony of the prosecution witness.” As a result, I conclude that the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubt, and that the accused is entitled to the benefit of the doubt.
Faizan was accused of being part of a riotous mob that vandalized and burnt the school on February 25, 2020, causing an estimated damage of ₹1 crore rupees.
The prosecution claimed that approximately 200 people broke into the premises, destroyed property and vehicles, and set fire to the building.
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Three people, including Faizan, were initially arrested in the case. In February 2025, both of his co-accused were acquitted.
Faizan, who was declared a proclaimed offender in 2022 after going on the run, was apprehended in August 2025 and tried separately.
The court noted that the case against Faizan was entirely based on the testimony of a single police officer, who identified him as a member of a riotous mob.
“It is also noted that this witness has taken a conflicting position in his two statements, which were recorded in court,” the judge stated.
The court also noted an unexplained delay in filing the FIR and the investigating agency’s failure to examine other police officers present at the scene.
“No explanation has been provided for these contradictions,” the court stated, adding that the prosecution had failed to establish its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
As a result, the court acquitted the accused of all charges.
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