A Delhi court convicted former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain and several co-accused for the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma.
The verdict marks a significant legal milestone in the aftermath of the 2020 North East Delhi riots. It addresses the killing of a government official and the role of political figures in inciting communal violence.
Presiding at the Karkardooma Court, the judge found Hussain guilty of murder, kidnapping, and rioting [1]. The court also convicted him of promoting religious enmity, and related offences [1]. The charges stem from the violence that occurred during the 2020 riots, during which Sharma was killed [2].
Reports vary on the number of co-accused convicted alongside Hussain. One report said three others were convicted [1], while another said four others were found guilty [3].
The conviction has triggered a political conflict in India. Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party have used the verdict to attack Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP, alleging that Hussain previously received political protection [4].
The court has scheduled the sentencing hearing for July 23 [5].
“Tahir Hussain convicted of murder, kidnapping, rioting, and promoting religious enmity.”
This conviction connects a former elected official directly to the violent deaths that occurred during the 2020 Delhi riots. By establishing legal guilt for kidnapping and murder, the court provides a judicial conclusion to the killing of an Intelligence Bureau officer, while simultaneously intensifying the political rivalry between the BJP and AAP regarding the administration of law and order in the capital.
