Delhi Police has sought the death penalty for five convicts, including former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, in the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Delhi riots. Arguments on sentencing are currently underway in Delhi’s Karkardooma Court.
On July 13, the court convicted Tahir Hussain, Nazim, Qasim, Anas and Javed of murder, kidnapping, rioting and promoting communal enmity. Six of the 11 accused were acquitted in the case.
IB officer Ankit Sharma had gone out again after returning home from the office on the evening of the violence, when he was murdered.
Ankit’s body was found in a drain in the violence-hit area
The case was registered at Dayalpur Police Station on a complaint filed by Ankit Sharma’s father, Ravinder Kumar.
According to the complaint, Ankit Sharma returned home from work on February 25, 2020, but later went out again and did not return. As his family searched for him, they were informed that he had been murdered and that his body had been thrown into the Khajuri Khas drain near the Chand Bagh culvert.
The following morning, police recovered his body from the drain.
Ravinder Kumar alleged that his son was murdered by then AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and his associates. According to the complaint, the accused had gathered at Tahir Hussain’s office before the murder, after which Ankit Sharma’s body was allegedly dumped in the drain.
Ankit’s body was found in the drain, with 51 injury marks on his body.
After his name surfaced in the case, the Aam Aadmi Party suspended Tahir Hussain. On March 24, 2023, the court framed charges against 11 accused, including Tahir Hussain.
Riots occurred during protests against CAA
On February 23, 2020, opponents and supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) clashed. Following this, stone-pelting began from both sides. The riots, which continued until February 26, claimed the lives of 53 people and left more than 250 injured. Among the deceased, 38 were Muslims and 15 were Hindus. Approximately 800 shops were burned down. More than 500 houses were set on fire.
Tahir had fought the 2025 assembly elections after coming out of jail on parole
In the Delhi Assembly elections held in February 2025, Tahir Hussain had contested from the Mustafabad seat on a ticket from Asaduddin Owaisi’s party AIMIM. In this election, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Mohan Singh Bisht had registered a victory, while Tahir Hussain stood third. He had received around 33 thousand votes. Tahir had come out on custody parole for election campaigning.
