2020 Delhi riots case: Court frames charges of rioting, arson against 9 accused
New Delhi, (PTI): A court here has framed charges of rioting, arson and house trespass against nine accused in a 2020 Delhi riots case, saying the "probative value" of evidence at this stage was not to be considered.
Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala was hearing a case against Shah Alam, Rashid Saifi, Mohammed Shadab, Habib, Irfan, Suhail, Salim, Irshad and Azhar, who were accused of being part of a riotous mob that engaged in assault, vandalism and arson across seven separate incidents on February 24, 2020, in Dayalpur.
Noting the statements of eyewitnesses, the judge said there was a mob which indulged in vandalism and arson in several properties from around 11 AM to 5 PM and all the accused persons were identified to be part of this mob.
ASJ Pramachala said according to the prosecution's site plan, the incidents reported by seven complainants occurred in close vicinity. He said CCTV footage was used to identify the rioters.
"Thus, it is apparent that all these incidents took place when this riotous mob was on a rampage," he said in an order passed on Tuesday.
Rejecting the defence's argument about the credibility of evidence, the court said at the stage of framing charges, the "probative value" of evidence was not to be considered.
"If the evidence on the record satisfies the ingredients of the alleged offences and raises serious suspicion against the accused persons, to connect them with the alleged incidents, then the court is supposed to conduct the trial in the case, by framing the charges," it said.
Underlining that being a police official did not make a person a "less credible witness," the court said at the present stage it could not any statement of the witness as false or incredible.
"Thus, on the basis of allegations made by complainants and the evidence available on the record, I find the accused persons liable to be tried for offences punishable under IPC sections 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 379 (theft) and 341 (wrongful restraint)...," the court said.
It said all accused were also liable to be tried for the offences of house trespass, causing mischief by fire or explosive substance, unlawful assembly and disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
