Delhi Court Convicts Former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain in 2020 Riots Murder of IB Staffer

Over six years after the communal riots that rocked northeast Delhi in February 2020, a Delhi court has convicted former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain and four others in the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma. The verdict, delivered on [date], marks a significant development in one of the most high-profile cases linked to the violence.

Ankit Sharma, 26, an IB employee, was found dead in a drain in Chand Bagh area on February 26, 2020, a day after the riots had erupted. His body bore multiple stab wounds, and his family alleged that he was killed by a mob led by Hussain, whose house was nearby. The prosecution argued that Hussain and the other accused—Farman, Naved, Shadab, and Wasim—were part of a mob that attacked Sharma with sharp-edged weapons.

The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge [name], found all five accused guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder (Section 302), rioting (Section 147), and unlawful assembly (Section 148). The quantum of sentence is expected to be pronounced later.

Tahir Hussain, a former AAP councillor from the Mustafabad ward, was arrested in March 2020. The case was investigated by the Delhi Police's Crime Branch, which filed a charge sheet in 2021. The trial proceeded with over 100 witnesses examined.

The verdict comes amid ongoing legal proceedings in several other cases related to the 2020 Delhi riots, which claimed over 50 lives and left hundreds injured. The riots were triggered by clashes between supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and its opponents. Several political leaders and activists have faced scrutiny over their alleged roles in inciting violence.

Ankit Sharma's father, Ratan Lal, had filed a complaint alleging that his son was killed by a mob that included Hussain and others. The family has welcomed the conviction but awaits the sentencing. “We hope the court awards the maximum punishment,” Ratan Lal told reporters outside the court.

Hussain's lawyer indicated that they would appeal the verdict. The other four convicts are currently in judicial custody. The court observed that the evidence, including testimonies of eyewitnesses and forensic reports, established the guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

This conviction is seen as a step towards accountability for the violence that shook the national capital. However, legal experts note that many other riot-related cases remain pending, and the full picture of the 2020 events is yet to emerge through the judicial process.