The Patiala House Court in Delhi acquitted Health Minister Satyendar Jain and four Aam Aadmi Party volunteers on Tuesday in a case of rioting in Paschim Vihar before the 2013 Assembly elections, PTI reported. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal acquitted the five people noting that the witnesses in the case had failed to identify them.
The Delhi Police had arrested Jain in 2013 for allegedly rioting and obstructing public officials from discharging their duties during a protest. Jain was booked under Sections 147 (rioting), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and 1896 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public function) of the Indian Penal Code.
The court, however, said that no public official appeared before it to prove that Jain had obstructed them from doing their duty.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!