A Delhi court has delayed its decision on the sentencing of former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others convicted in the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. The court, after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defense, will announce the sentence on July 31. Delhi Police has pushed for the death penalty, citing the brutal nature of Sharma’s killing and the lack of mercy shown to him after the assault.
The prosecution emphasized that no attempts were made to take Sharma to a hospital after the attack, urging the court to consider the extreme brutality of the assault. They argued that every member of the violent mob should be held accountable for the crimes committed, suggesting that Hussain should have intervened to save Sharma. In response, the defense contended that the case did not meet the criteria for the death penalty, pointing out that only five out of 11 accused were convicted, indicating a lack of full acceptance of the prosecution’s case.
Hussain’s defense team highlighted that while his presence in the area was confirmed, there was no direct link to Sharma’s murder. They argued that the evidence did not establish a criminal conspiracy and that Hussain’s actions during the violence, including calling the police, should be considered. The court, after considering all arguments, has postponed the sentencing decision to July 31, awaiting further deliberation.
