A Delhi court has 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 Delhi riots. The court found Hussain guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder and promoting enmity between different groups on religious grounds. Additionally, four other accused were convicted for Sharma’s murder.
The court, however, acquitted all the convicted individuals of criminal conspiracy charges. Six other accused persons were also acquitted due to a lack of evidence establishing their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The sentencing for the convicted individuals is yet to be determined, with a later date set for arguments on sentencing.
The case revolves around the killing of IB officer Sharma, whose body was discovered in a drain in the Khajuri Khas area amid the communal violence in February 2020. According to the prosecution, Hussain and his associates were part of an unlawful assembly that abducted and murdered Sharma during the riots.
An FIR was lodged on February 26, 2020, by Sharma’s father, alleging that his son went missing after leaving home to buy household items. Local residents later informed him that a youth had been thrown into the drain from the Chand Bagh area, leading to the recovery of Sharma’s body. The complainant accused Hussain and his associates of being responsible for the murder.
In March 2023, charges were framed against 11 accused, including Hussain, for offenses such as rioting, murder, and criminal conspiracy. The court had noted during the framing of charges that Hussain had incited the mob to target Hindus. The Delhi High Court had previously denied bail to Hussain in this case.
Recently, the Karkardooma Court postponed the verdict announcement from July 7 to July 13.
