Kishangarh shooting 2021: Main accused discharged by Delhi court

A Delhi court has discharged four accused in a four-year old case of shootout in Kishangarh in New Delhi, which was allegedly a result of a long-standing rivalry between two groups.

The shootout took place in 2021 when occupants of a SUV were shot at in broad daylight in Kishangarh, leaving the driver injured, while others Som Raj alias Dhami and his personal security officer Krishna escaped the attack.

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The police had booked eight persons in the case, including the main accused Harender Maan and Bimlesh Maan, for criminal conspiracy and attempt to murder among others.

Dhami had told the Special Cell that he was having enmity with Harender Maan and his family members because Maan’s uncle Ashok was murdered in February 2020 and that he and his brother Devendar and Dharambir were implicated in the said case on the basis of suspicion. He had alleged that shooting at Kishangarh was a result of this.

Advocates Rhythm Aggarwal and Neeraj Tiwari, who argued for Mann, said the prosecution’s case was based purely on conjecture and retaliatory allegations, lacking any credible evidence.

Picking holes in the police case, Ms. Aggarwal said at no point during the investigation was any mobile handset, SIM card, or related electronic evidence recovered from the possession or control of the accused persons.

She said the prosecution failed to produce even a single piece of corroborative material connecting the accused with any mobile device allegedly linked to the incident. In the absence of such recovery or technical evidence, the allegation of tampering or using a mobile phone stands wholly unsubstantiated and cannot be relied upon to implicate the accused, Ms. Aggarwal argued.

Additional Sessions Judge Kiran Gupta said, “Though the IO has stated that accused Harender Mann was in contact with co-accused persons on Whatsapp call, however, no call details or location chart has been placed on record to prima facie show that accused Harender Mann was part of criminal conspiracy.” She said prima facie there is no evidence of conspiracy against accused Manjeet Singh alias Mahal, Sonu alias Mukesh, Harender Mann, Ashish alias Bittu and Bimlesh, and discharged them.

Ms. Gupta, however, ordered starting trial against four remaining accused under the Arms Act and attempt to murder.