
In a scathing critique, a Delhi Court admonished the Delhi Police for consolidating 22
complaints into a single FIR related to a Delhi riots case. Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala asserted that such an “illegal approach” cannot be endorsed by the court and directed the concerned Station House Officer (SHO) to separate the complaints and initiate individual investigations.
The court expressed concern over the investigating agency’s “adamant approach” in disregarding legal mandates, highlighting that charge sheets had been filed without concrete evidence linking the accused to all 22 incidents. The judge emphasized that hearsay evidence is inadmissible and criticized the premature conclusion of the investigation without proper substantiation.
Refuting an application by the SHO for further investigation, the judge questioned the agency’s readiness to conclude without sufficient evidence, labeling it as an “illegal exercise.” The court underscored the lack of a legal basis to consolidate complaints in the FIR, emphasizing that continuity of actions must be established for such consolidation.
The court specified that the case would proceed solely based on Rizwan’s complaint, requiring the filing of a witness list by a specified date. The upcoming proceedings will focus on arguments related to the charges limited to Rizwan’s complaint.