'Delhi Riots of 2020 were pre-planned, pre-mediated conspiracy': Delhi HC rejects bail plea of accused Ibrahim in Ratan Lal murder case

On September 28, while dismissing the bail plea of one Mohammad Ibrahim in Head Constable Ratan Lal Murder Case during the North East Delhi riots, the Delhi HC said that the evidence confirmed the existence of a pre-planned and pre-meditated conspiracy to disturb law and order in the city. Excerpt from the court order denying bail plea of Mohammad Ibrahim in Ratan Lal murder case The court said, “The riots which shook the National Capital of the country in February 2020 evidently did not take place in a spur of the moment, and the conduct of the protestors who are present in the video footage which has been placed on record by the prosecution visibly portrays that it was a calculated attempt to dislocate the functioning of the Government as well as to disrupt the normal life of the people in the city.” The court further added that the CCTV cameras were destroyed systematically that confirmed the existence of a pre-planned and pre-meditated conspiracy to disturb law and order in the city. The court said, “This is also evident from the fact that innumerable rioters ruthlessly act that in descended with sticks, dandas, bats etc., upon a hopelessly outnumbered cohort of police officials.” The court was hearing the bail plea of the accused in the Head Constable Ratan Lal Murder Case during the anti-Hindu Delhi riots of 2020. The court observed that the liberty of an individual cannot be misused in a way that it “threatens the fabric of society by attempting to destabilise it or cause hurt to others.” Justice Subramonium Prasad said, “This Court has previously opined on the importance of personal liberty in a democratic polity, but it is to be categorically noted that individual liberty cannot be misused in a manner that threatens the very fabric of civilised society by attempting to destabilise it and cause hurt to other persons.” The case against Ibrahim Mohammad Ibrahim was seen in several CCTV footage wearing a black Nehru jacket, salwar kurta and a skull cap.