Delhi HC Stays Demolition of Properties Linked to Holi Clash Suspects

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued an interim order directing the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to refrain from demolishing two residential properties linked to suspects in the fatal Holi clash in southwest Delhi's Uttam Nagar area until the court hears the matter on Wednesday. The directive came amid heightened tensions following the killing of a 26-year-old man and a subsequent anti-encroachment demolition that has raised concerns over due process.

The clash occurred on March 4 in the JJ Colony neighborhood, where Tarun, 26, died during a dispute between two neighboring families who had known each other for about five decades. Police reports indicate the altercation began when water from a balloon thrown by a girl from Tarun's family splashed on a woman from the neighboring family, escalating longstanding disagreements over issues like parking and garbage disposal into a physical scuffle. An FIR was registered on March 5 at Uttam Nagar police station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Authorities later added charges under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and for murder.

Six individuals—Umardeen, 49; Jummadeen, 36;...