Delhi riots case: Court asks prosecution to "wake up," Calls out "irrelevant" witnesses

A Delhi court criticised the prosecution and Delhi police for presenting "irrelevant" witnesses in a 2020 riots case. The bench issued a final warning saying such "mishappenings" will not be taken leniently.

In the case being addressed, the court pointed out that there is no mention of a complaint of this complainant in the charges framed. The prosecution responded by saying that "charges were not framed in respect of a complaint made by a witness present today or even by the witness, who has been summoned for tomorrow," reported The Indian Express.

Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala said the prosecution is repeating such actions despite repeated directions given in the past. After the investigating officer and prosecution sought another opportunity, the bench granted it and asked the prosecution to "wake up".

"At the cost of repetition of previous directions, it is again reminded that before obtaining summons for any witness, a duty has been cast upon the IO and the prosecutor to ensure the relevance of such witness in the case, and apparently it was not so done. Therefore, they must take care in the future," said the court.