The BJP attacked Arvind Kejriwal and Sonia Gandhi after a Delhi trial court convicted former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain for the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma.
The conviction intensifies a political battle over the 2020 murder, as the BJP alleges that high-ranking opposition leaders provided political cover to the convicted individuals.
BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said that Arvind Kejriwal and Sonia Gandhi chose politics over justice. He said they stood with the accused rather than the victim [1]. Following the court's decision on July 14, 2026 [1], Bhatia said Kejriwal was the "biggest culprit" alongside Hussain [1].
According to court records and reporting, Tahir Hussain and four others were convicted in the case [2]. The murder of the Intelligence Bureau officer has remained a point of contention between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Bhatia said that the verdict proves the accused were protected by political interests. He said that the alliance between the AAP and the Congress party served to shield Hussain from accountability while the victim's family sought justice [1].
The BJP's criticism extends to the broader strategy of the opposition, suggesting that the prioritization of electoral alliances over criminal justice has a cost for public safety. The party said the conviction serves as a reminder of the danger of political patronage, a theme the BJP has emphasized throughout the legal proceedings [1].
While some reports focused primarily on Kejriwal, the BJP's attack included Sonia Gandhi, asserting that both leaders were complicit in the political shielding of the convict [1].
“"Arvind Kejriwal and Sonia Gandhi chose politics over justice."”
This conviction transforms a criminal case into a significant political liability for the AAP and Congress. By linking the leaders to the convicted murderer, the BJP is attempting to frame the opposition as protectors of communal violence and lawbreakers, which may influence voter perception regarding the rule of law in Delhi.
