In a significant legal development, the Karkardooma Court in Delhi has sentenced former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain, along with four others, to life imprisonment for their involvement in the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Delhi riots. Presiding over the case, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Praveen Singh delivered the verdict on Friday, rejecting the prosecution’s demand for the death penalty.
The court acknowledged the horrific nature of the crime, describing it as “nauseating and sickening” due to its violent execution. However, ASJ Singh emphasized that the convicts, identified as Tahir Hussain, Nazir, Asim, Javed, and Anas, still possess the potential for rehabilitation. The judge noted that the crime occurred during a period of heightened communal unrest in Delhi, adding a layer of brutality to the act. “Sharma was ensnared by a murderous mob,” the court stated, highlighting the viciousness of the attack.
Despite the severity of the crime, the court observed that there was no evidence of the convicts’ previous involvement in violent activities. “The conduct of the convicts in custody, apart from minor infractions, has been satisfactory,” Judge Singh noted, suggesting that they are capable of adhering to rules and discipline.
The Delhi Police had advocated for the death penalty, characterizing Sharma’s murder as a “cold-blooded” act. They argued that the lack of mercy shown during the crime warranted the harshest punishment. However, the defense successfully argued against the death penalty, asserting that such a sentence is reserved for the “rarest of rare” cases and highlighting the absence of evidence pointing to a premeditated conspiracy.
Tahir Hussain was convicted under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 188 (disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant), Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), Section 147 (rioting), Section 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon), Section 149 (unlawful assembly), Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person), and Section 302 (murder). The co-defendants, Nazir, Asim, Javed, and Anas, were convicted under the same charges.
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The case was initiated following a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Ankit Sharma’s father, Ravinder Kumar, on February 26, 2020. The complaint detailed the violent incidents that erupted following protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the subsequent communal clashes. Kumar accused Hussain of orchestrating the violence from his office, alleging that Hussain and his accomplices used stones, petrol bombs, and firearms to instill fear in the community.
Ravinder Kumar further recounted that his son disappeared on February 25, 2020, after leaving home to buy household items. Locals informed him about a boy being thrown into the Khajuri Khas drain from the Chand Bagh area. Ankit’s body was eventually recovered from the drain, leading to the suspicion that Hussain and his associates were responsible for the murder and disposal of the body.
