The Delhi High Court has rejected a batch of petitions seeking further FIRs, an independent investigation and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. The Division Bench of Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Manoj Jain held that the material before it did not establish that the Delhi Police investigation had been compromised.
The judgment was delivered on October 5, 2026, in petitions arising from the violence that followed protests linked to the Citizenship Amendment Act and proposed National Register of Citizens. The seven petitions raised several demands, including registration of criminal cases over alleged inflammatory speeches, transfer of investigation, preservation of electronic evidence, and compensation and rehabilitation for affected persons.
The petitioners relied on videos, photographs, victim accounts, affidavits and fact-finding reports to allege police inaction and misconduct. The Court noted, however, that several materials were disputed and that their authenticity, completeness and context were in question.
The Bench drew a distinction between allegations of misconduct by police personnel during the riots and proof that the subsequent investigation itself was compromised. It found no specific material showing that investigating or senior supervisory officers had acted to shield police personnel or interfere with the investigation.
“The present material does not establish such a connection. No specific material has been placed before us to demonstrate that an Investigating Officer, senior police officer or supervisory authority entrusted with the investigation was himself implicated in the alleged acts complained of, had a personal interest in shielding any police personnel, or had acted so as to compromise the investigation.”
The Court also noted that 757 criminal cases had been registered, with charge-sheets filed in 369 cases, while investigations and criminal proceedings continued in several others. In these circumstances, it held that transferring the entire investigation would disrupt proceedings already substantially advanced.
The Court declined to direct registration of further FIRs against particular individuals, while clarifying that its conclusion did not prevent competent authorities or courts from acting in an individual case according to law.
It also found no basis for blanket directions concerning CCTV footage and electronic records, noting that no specific instance of destruction, tampering or deliberate withholding had been shown.
On compensation and rehabilitation, the Court noted that a claims mechanism had already been established and compensation had been disbursed in numerous cases. It therefore found no need for further general directions.
The Delhi High Court dismissed all the writ petitions along with the pending applications and ordered that there would be no order as to costs.
The Court clarified that individuals would remain free to pursue remedies available to them under law.
Case Details:
Case Title: Shaikh Mujtaba Farooq & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors. and connected matters
Case Number: W.P.(CRL) 665/2020 and connected matters
Judge: Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Manoj Jain
Decision Date: October 5, 2026
