New Delhi, March 22 : The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ordered issue of notices to several Congress and BJP leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi, Anurag Thakur, Pravesh Sahib Verma and Kapil Mishra in connection with the communal violence in Delhi in 2020. A total of 53 people were killed in the violence that erupted in North-East Delhi after clashes over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). A batch of petitions filed before the High Court in connection with the violence alleged that hate speeches by leaders and activists led to violence in the backdrop of protests against CAA. The court was urged to take necessary action against the political leaders if their speeches contributed to the violence. Some of the petitioners sought setting up an SIT and registration of FIRs against police officers who were allegedly involved in the violence besides disclosure of persons arrested and detained. One of the counsels told the court to direct the Centre to order the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to find out if “anti-national forces” played a role in the violence. Delhi Police submitted that it has created three Special Investigation Teams (SIT) under the Crime Branch and there was no evidence that its officers were involved in the violence. Delhi Police said that out of 758 cases registered, 695 cases were being investigated by North-East District Police. The court then issued notices to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders Anurag Thakur, Pravesh Sahib Verma and Kapil Mishra and AAP leaders Manish Sisodia and Amanatullah Khan, AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi and Waris Pathan and activist Harsh Mander and sought their responses. The matter will be further on April 29. XC MR
