The Karkardooma Court in Delhi has decided to proceed with trial proceedings against ex-MCD councillor Ishrat Jahan and 12 other accused individuals, including Khalid Saifi, relating to charges of attempt to murder and rioting based on an FIR registered in 2020 at Police Station Jagat Puri. Judge Sameer Bajpai formally framed the charges against the 13 individuals, including Jahan, under sections related to rioting and attempt to murder, following which all the accused have declared their intent for a trial. The court has set a date of July 29 for the recording of prosecution evidence.
In a previously issued order dated January 19, 2024, Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat had affirmed the charges under the sections of attempt to murder and rioting, stating, "There are grounds for presuming that accused persons have committed offences under Section 147/148/186/188/332/353/307 IPC read with Section 149 IPC." However, the court has acquitted the accused persons from charges pertaining to common intention, criminal conspiracy, and Arms Act violations.
The prosecution, represented by special public prosecutor RCS Bhadoriya, argued that the case at hand is linked to the CAA protest at Khureji Khas, emphasizing that despite the imposition of Section 144 Cr.PC and declaring the assembly unlawful, the crowd refused to disperse, leading to a confrontation with the police. Accused individuals, including Ishrat Jahan and others, were alleged to have incited the crowd to resist police orders, resulting in stone-throwing, protests, and even firing at the police force, leading to injuries on both sides. The police also claimed to have recovered weapons like stones, iron rods, wooden sticks, and cartridges from the scene of the incident, eventually leading to the arrest of Jahan, Khalid, and others involved in the altercation.