Ex AAP Leader Tahir Hussain Convicted in 2020 Riots Murder Case
Delhi court convicts former AAP councillor and four others for killing IB officer during 2020 riots
- Delhi court convicts Tahir Hussain and four others in Ankit Sharma murder case.
- Former AAP councillor found guilty of murder, rioting and promoting enmity.
- Six accused acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence.
- Court to hear arguments on quantum of sentence on a later date.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 13th July: A Delhi court on Monday convicted former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain and four others for the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
The Karkardooma Court held Hussain guilty under charges including murder, rioting, promoting enmity, assault and use of criminal force. Along with Hussain, the court convicted Javed, Anas, Nazim and Kasim in the case.
The court, however, acquitted six other accused, observing that the prosecution failed to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The quantum of sentence will be decided after a separate hearing on a later date. Hussain’s counsel Abdul Gaffar said the conviction would be challenged before a higher court.
According to the prosecution, Hussain and the co-accused were part of an unlawful assembly that kidnapped and murdered Ankit Sharma during the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020.
During the trial, the prosecution alleged that Hussain had incited the mob to target members of the Hindu community and encouraged violent attacks. The Delhi High Court had earlier rejected Hussain’s bail plea after examining the evidence placed on record.
Ankit Sharma’s body was recovered from a drain on February 26, 2020. Investigators alleged that acid had been used to burn parts of his face and body in an attempt to conceal his identity.
The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Sharma’s father, Ravinder Kumar, who alleged that large-scale violence, including stone pelting, arson, firing and vandalism, had taken place around Chand Bagh during protests related to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
The complaint also alleged that Tahir Hussain had gathered armed supporters at his office near Chand Bagh Pulia, from where stones and petrol bombs were allegedly hurled at people during the riots.
According to the complaint, Ankit Sharma left his home on the evening of February 25, 2020, to buy household items but never returned. A missing report was lodged the following day before his body was discovered in the Khajuri Khas drain.
