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A video that went viral purportedly showed some police officers allegedly beating a Muslim youth while making them sing the national anthem, according to Brinda Karat's attorney, who claimed there were several FIRs relating to alleged abuse of authority by police officers during the violence.
On Monday, the Delhi High Court requested copies of the First Information Report (FIR), in which CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has requested an independent investigation into the alleged overuse of force by police during the 2020 riots in the nation's capital.
At least 53 people were killed and over 700 others were injured during the 2020 Delhi riots, which were being heard by a bench made up of Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Anish Dayal.
A video that went viral purportedly showed some police officers allegedly beating a Muslim youth while forcing them to sing the national anthem, according to Karat's attorney, who stated before the court that there were several FIRs relating to alleged misuse of power by police during the violence.
"Please submit a copy of any FIRs you wish us to use as the basis for an impartial investigation. Put it in writing. (List on August 7) to allow the petitioner to record copies of the relevant FIRs," the High Court declared, according to news source PTI.
Along with the CPI (M) leader's petition, a request for FIRs against a number of political figures accused of making hateful statements was also brought before the bench, which ordered that all cases be listed for hearing on August 7.
Previously, on July 13, 2022, the High Court ordered that a number of political figures become parties to proceedings before the High Court requesting an FIR and an investigation into them for allegedly making hate speeches that sparked communal violence. Anurag Thakur (of the BJP), Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (of the Congress), and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were among the group's leaders.
The High Court has been asked by petitioner Shaikh Mujtaba Farooq to register a hate speech FIR against BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Kapil Mishra, Parvesh Verma, and Abhay Verma.
Petitioner Lawyers Voice has sought from the High Court registration of hate speech FIRs against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (Congress leaders), Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, MLA Amanatullah Khan (Aam Aadmi Party leaders), Akbaruddin Owaisi, former MLA Waris Pathan (AIMIM leaders), Harsh Mander, Swara Bhasker and Umar Khalid among others.
In response to the High Court's judgment, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi each submitted a separate affidavit stating that there is insufficient evidence to support the issuance of a direction to initiate an FIR against them.
