AAP MLA Akhilesh Tripathi acquitted in rioting case

NEW DELHI: In a relief to Aam Aadmi Party MLA Akhilesh Tripathi, a trial court has acquitted him in a two-year-old rioting case, holding that the prosecution failed to establish its case.

Bittu Jha had alleged that Tripathi and four others had assaulted him. Besides the Model Town legislator, the court also acquitted the other accused. Metropolitan magistrate Kapil Kumar passed the order on Saturday. However, a copy of the order was not available till late Monday evening.

On November 26, Tripathi was sent to judicial custody for a day in pursuance of a non-bailable warrant issued against him for defying court summons. "The conduct of accused Tripathi made it clear he wants to delay the case. He has no concern or respect for the orders of this court or the directions of Supreme Court. Due to his non-appearance, a public witness has been discharged twice by this court," the court had said while sending Tripathi to judicial custody.

On November 27, Tripathi was granted bail after he assured court that he would not misuse the liberty and would cooperate in court proceedings.

In 2013, an FIR was registered against Tripathi, Rahul Kumar, Vikas Mandal, Inder Vikram Singh and Kanhaiya Kumar Jha for alleged offences under IPC sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 323 (causing simple hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

According to police, a case was lodged against Tripathi and four others on March 9, 2013 following allegations that on March 8, 2013, they along with other AAP supporters had gathered at GT Karnal Road near Lal Bagh Azadpur and entered into a quarrel with Jha. The FIR registered at Adarsh Nagar Police Station in north west Delhi stated that during the altercation, the accused persons assaulted the complainant in which he sustained injuries.