The riddle is finally solved. The CBI has named two elusive cops from the Delhi Police who allegedly let Faizan, a 23-year-old Muslim youth, die during the 2020 Delhi riots after beating him up and forcing him to sing Vande Mataram and the national anthem. The CBI has now found “substantial evidence”, show court records.

In 2024, Newslaundry had uncovered how evidence in the case was compromised at the very start, with glaring holes in Faizan’s medico-legal certificates. There were a string of statements that had corroborated a single truth: that a string of policemen posted in Kardampuri were responsible for the assault and for the transfer to the hospital on February 24, 2020. Despite clear duty charts, no police official had been held responsible for what the Delhi High Court termed a hate crime. 

The case was subsequently transferred to the CBI, which had filed an FIR on August 6, 2024, under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (armed), 149 (common object), and 302 (murder) of the IPC.

On Wednesday, taking cognisance of a chargesheet filed by CBI, a special CBI court stated: “During investigation, evidence was collected by the IO (investigating officer) and on the basis of investigation carried out, the present chargesheet has been filed against accused Head Constable Ravinder Kumar and Constable Pawan Yadav. There is sufficient material on record to take cognizance for commission of offence u/s 323, 325, 304(II) r/w Section 34 IPC........

© newslaundry