The Delhi Court remarked for a fair trial scrutiny, while noticing that the Police was in a state of ‘inscrutable indolence’ after the court was informed that the State Police was yet to lay hold of the significant video footage from the camera installed at Maujpur and Jafrabad Metro stations, in the case of Northeast Delhi riots.
“They say a picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth a thousand pictures. Police seem to be in a state of inscrutable indolence in the collection of relevant video footage. The indolence is a cause of concern as evidence in criminal matters is invariably ephemeral in nature,” the Court held while expanding the judicial custody of Pinjra Natasha Narwal, and former Congress Municipal Councillor Ishrat Jahan till August 14.
Further, while highlighting the gravity of the video footage as the evidence, in this case, the Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana appealed the respective DCP to monitor in person the investigation and emphasized that “sterling image of Delhi Police remains blemish-free and flow of the course of justice remain unsullied.”
Moreover, it was duly noted that the investigating officer informed the court that the Delhi Police was in the process of collecting the video footage from the metro stations and also from the photographers who were engaged by the Police. Subsequently, the court remarked that the Police failed to produce any notice which was issued to the officials of the metro stations for the preservation of video footage.
“Regretfully, ACP Hriday Bhushan and Inspector Anil Kumar has failed to point out the seizure of the relevant video footage”, the Court said. “It is not the task of this court to direct Police as to how and what evidence is required to be collected. However, this Court is duty-bound to ensure a fair investigation,” asserted the court.
This News has been written and submitted by Ms. Vishakha Bhardwaj during her course of internship at B&B Associates LLP. Ms. Vishakha is a third-year law student at the Army Institute of Law, Mohali.
