More than six years after the 2020 northeast Delhi riots claimed the life of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma, a Delhi court on Monday convicted former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain and four others for their roles in the murder. At the same time, six of the 11 accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence.Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh delivered the verdict after hearing the case involving 11 accused. Apart from Hussain, the court found Nazim, Kasim, Javed and Anas guilty. The remaining six accused were acquitted after the prosecution failed to establish their involvement beyond reasonable doubt.The court held Hussain guilty under various sections related to murder, rioting, promoting enmity between different religious groups and assault or use of criminal force. However, the charge of criminal conspiracy against the former councillor was dropped.The case stems from the communal violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020, during which IB officer Ankit Sharma was found dead after going missing. His body was later recovered from a drain with multiple injuries, making his death one of the most high-profile cases linked to the riots.The trial witnessed extensive examination of witnesses and evidence over several years before the court reached its verdict. The proceedings also witnessed emotional scenes inside the courtroom as the judgment was pronounced.The conviction marks a significant milestone in one of the most closely watched cases arising out of the 2020 Delhi riots. The court is expected to hear arguments on the quantum of sentence before announcing the punishment for the convicted individuals.
Delhi riots case: Ex-AAP councillor Tahir Hussain convicted in IB officer Ankit Sharma murder
