Court acquits Cong MLA in 2001 rioting case

Congress MLA Mateen Ahmed and his associate, who had challenged their three-year jail term, were today acquitted by a Delhi court of the charges of rioting and obstructing public servants who were closing down polluting industries in 2001 on the Supreme Court's order.
Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Kumar set aside the judgement of a magisterial court and acquitted Seelampur MLA Mateen Ahmed and ex-councillor Jameer Ahmed.
The two were held guilty in January this year by the magistrate of rioting, assaulting and causing hurt to deter public servants from discharging their duties.
Mateen and Jameer had approached the sessions court challenging the order of a magistrate, saying it would bar them from contesting the next elections.

"The appellants are reputed politicians and have repeatedly won elections on their posts. If the judgement of conviction is not suspended pending disposal of the appeal, it would mar their chances of contesting the next elections," they had said in their appeals.