2020 Delhi riots: Only 1 found guilty of murder in 53 criminal cases

NEW DELHI: Six years after riots erupted in northeast Delhi over the controversial citizenship law, leaving 53 people dead and neighborhoods scarred, only one person has been held guilty on the charge of murder in the 53 riot-related criminal cases that were filed.

As of 2025, convictions have been secured only in 11 of the 53 criminal cases registered under charges, including unlawful assembly, rioting armed with weapons, mischief by explosive substances, theft, and statements leading to public mischief.


TOI’s analysis of the 53 cases has revealed that over 40 persons have been convicted till now while above 100 were acquitted and 75 persons were discharged for lack of sufficient evidence. In total, 758 cases have been filed in connection with the riots, which include the 53 criminal cases.

During this period, judges have changed, leaving behind a legacy of statistics and strong observations on handling the investigation and evidence .
As trials dragged on, owing to a high number of witnesses and voluminous evidence, the judges got transferred, as part of routine administrative reshuffle within district judiciary.

The North East District court handling the main riots related trials in Karkardooma complex alone saw several judges hear the matters — Vinod Yadav, Virender Bhatt, Pulastya Pramachala and the present Parveen Singh.

In the same complex, another special court is overseeing the high-profile “larger conspiracy case” where student activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, former Aam Aadmi Party councilor Tahir Hussain are arraigned as accused.