Delhi High Court confirms seven-year sentence for five men convicted of culpable homicide in a 2020 riots-related death, affirming evidentiary proof of active participation beyond mere presence.
The Delhi High Court has upheld the conviction and seven-year rigorous imprisonment sentence for five individuals found guilty in the death of a 22-year-old during the 2020 Delhi riots. Justice Madhu Jain dismissed appeals by Aman Kashyap, Devinder Kumar, Pradeep Rai, Ashish @ Goli, and Arun Kumar, affirming the trial court’s finding of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 IPC.
The court rejected the appellants’ claim of passive presence, observing that evidence—including eyewitness accounts and forensic correlations—established their active involvement in violent mob actions. The judgment emphasized that participation in a violent assembly with knowledge of likely consequences can attract criminal liability under vicarious responsibility doctrines.
"The evidence shows more than mere presence; it points to active engagement in acts leading to fatal outcomes."
With rising scrutiny on riot-related prosecutions, this ruling reinforces prosecutorial standards for attributing culpability in group violence scenarios. Practitioners should note the increasing reliance on circumstantial and testimonial proof in such sensitive cases.
Citations
- Section 304 IPC
