In a significant development six years after the incident, a Delhi court has issued summons to two Delhi Police personnel in connection with the death of 23-year-old Faizan during the North-East Delhi riots. Taking cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Mayank Goyal directed Head Constable Ravinder Kumar and Constable Pawan Yadav to appear before the court on February 24.
In its order dated February 4, 2026, the court observed that, based on the material available on record, there is sufficient prima facie ground to invoke provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 325 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), and Section 304(II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), read with Section 34, against the accused.
The case had drawn nationwide attention in 2020 after a video surfaced on social media showing police personnel beating a group of Muslim youths with batons and forcing them to sing the national anthem and ‘Vande Mataram’. Faizan was among those seen in the video and later succumbed to his injuries.
Faizan’s family has alleged that he sustained serious injuries during the riots but was denied timely and adequate medical treatment. They have further claimed that he was illegally detained at Jyoti Nagar police station and that medical negligence led to his death.
The investigation was transferred to the CBI following directions from the Delhi High Court. In July 2024, while hearing a petition filed by Faizan’s mother Qismatun, the High Court described the Delhi Police investigation as “lethargic and superficial.” Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani observed that the case prima facie fell under the category of a hate crime, and since the accused were themselves part of the investigating agency, an impartial probe could not be ensured.
The High Court further remarked that when law enforcement officials themselves are accused of violating the law and conduct the investigation, it undermines the credibility and fairness of the probe. Consequently, the investigation was taken away from the Delhi Police and handed over to the CBI.
The CBI registered an FIR on August 6, 2024, and initiated the investigation. After completing the probe, the agency filed a charge sheet against the two police personnel, on which the court has now taken cognisance.
Earlier, in February 2025, the Karkardooma Court had also ordered the registration of an FIR against the then Station House Officer (SHO) of Jyoti Nagar police station.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for February 24, when both accused police personnel are required to appear before the court.
