2020 riots: Court orders FIR against minister Kapil

A Delhi court on Tuesday ordered the registration of an FIR against BJP leader and Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra to investigate his alleged role in the 2020 riots in the national capital.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia said there was “prime facie” evidence of a cognisable offence against him that requires an investigation. “It is clear that Mishra was in the area at the time of the alleged offence... further probe is required,” said Chaurasia.

The plea was filed by a Yamuna Vihar resident, Mohammad Ilyas, seeking registration of an FIR against Kapil Mishra and five others, including BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht, former BJP MLA Jagdish Pradhan and then Station House Officer of the Dayalpur police station.

The petitioner stated that he saw Kapil Mishra, then BJP MLA, and others destroying vendors’ carts in north east Delhi’s Kardampuri. It is also alleged that the petitioner saw Dayalpur SHO, Bisht and Pradhan vandalising mosques in the area.

The Delhi Police, however, opposed the plea stating that Mishra had no role in the riots. The police had told the court that the BJP leader was being framed in the matter. His alleged role was investigated and nothing was found.