2020 Delhi Riots: Stay Order Till April 21 For Probe Against Law Minister Kapil Mishra, Orders

A Delhi court has put a stay order for further investigation till April 21 against Law Minister Kapil Mishra in connection with the February 2020 riots in the national capital. The order was stayed by special judge Kaveri Baweja following Mishra’s move to court seeking a plea against the magisterial court verdict.

The court also issued a notice to complainant Mohammad Ilyas, whose plea led the magistrate to order an FIR, and asked him to file a response by April 21. On April 1, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia had observed that a cognisable offence appeared to have been committed by Kapil Mishra, warranting further investigation.

2020 Delhi riots: Court stays till April 21 order directing further probe against minister Kapil Mishra

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 9, 2025

“It is clear that Mishra was in the area at the time of alleged offence… further probe required,” the judge told PTI.

However, Ilyas’ plea was opposed by Delhi Police, stating that Mishra had no role in the riots.

Violence Over Citizenship Law

The violence erupted in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, after protests over the citizenship law, resulting in the deaths of 53 people and several were injured.

Police told the magistrate that there was “a plan” to falsely implicate Mishra in the riots. They further stated that Mishra’s role had already been examined in the broader conspiracy behind the unrest.

“The chats of the DPSG (Delhi protest support group) show that the chakka jams were planned well in advance, as early as February 15 and 17, 2020. Police investigation had revealed that a plan was hatched to shift the blame on Mishra,” it added.

Ilyas had sought an FIR against Mishra, then SHO of Dayalpur, and five others, including BJP MLA Mohan Singh Bisht and former BJP MLAs Jagdish Pradhan and Satpal Sansad.

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