• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Tahir Hussain gets life imprisonment for Ankit Sharma's murder.
  2. Verdict by Karkardooma Court in 2020 Delhi riots case.
  3. Former AAP councillor convicted in IB official's killing.

Ankit Sharma Murder Case: Karkardooma Court on Friday awarded life imprisonment to former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in the murder case of IB official Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. Along with Hussain, 4 others were also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of the IB officer. This verdict marks a significant development in one of the prominent cases from the widespread violence.

Earlier on January 27,  the court reserved its order for July 31 on the quantum of sentence against Hussain and four others convicted for the murder of the IB officer during the riots in northeast Delhi. Hearing the arguments on the quantum of sentence against the five convicts, Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh had reserved the order for Friday.

'Will Get Justice From The High Court': Hussain

After the sentencing, Hussain said he would get justice from the High Court. He expressed disappointment over the verdict, calling it a political conspiracy. Hussain maintained that he was innocent and the charges against him in the case were baseless. His legal team is now preparing to file an appeal in the Delhi High Court.

Hussain was convicted under IPC sections 302 (murder), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine a person), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon), 153A (promoting enmity) and 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly). 

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What Delhi Police Said

During the hearing, Delhi Police sought death sentence for all the five convicts, saying they fell to the level of animals while relentlessly assaulting the victim. Special public prosecutor Madhukar Pandey submitted that Sharma was abducted, assaulted relentlessly and killed by the convicts. They kept torturing him even after he died, Pandey said.

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 51 Wounds Were Found On Ankit's Body

"Ankit Sharma was abducted and relentlessly assaulted before he was killed. A total of 51 wounds were found on his body; 18 of those were inflicted with sharp weapons. The nature of the weapons used shows the intent and diabolical nature of the crime. They fell to the level of being animals. Even after the victim died, they continued the assault," he said.

Pandey also asserted that the nature of the crime was heinous and brutal, and the convicts should be handed the death sentence.

"The manner of this killing is not to be seen in isolation, but with the 53 people killed in the riots. So, the context also became relevant, the context in which the riots took place," he added.

What Tahir Hussain's Advocates Said

Representing Hussain, advocates Rajiv Mohan and Tara Narula opposed the state's contention and argued that no specific role had been attributed to their client and it should also be considered that out of the 11 accused, six were acquitted in the case.

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"Every convicted person should not be given the death sentence. Aggravating circumstances should be considered first and then the mitigating circumstances. Of conviction, out of the 11 accused, six have been acquitted," advocate Mohan said. He contended that the death penalty is only given in the rarest of rare cases, and in this case, the judgement only mentions the presence of a mob at the crime scene, but not about the specific role of the convicts.

Advocate Narula contended that Hussain is the sole breadwinner of his family and has a wife and three children. "All three (children) were minors when he surrendered.

On July 13, the court convicted Hussain and four others for the murder of Sharma, who was attacked by a mob during the 2020 Delhi riots. His body was later found in a drain. In its verdict, the court held that Hussain was a member of a heavily armed mob that assembled with animus against Hindus to commit rioting, arson and loot, and murdered Sharma in a "savage and relentless assault".

What Is The Case?

This case is considered the most brutal in the 2020 Delhi riots, which left 53 people dead and hundreds injured. The CBI and Delhi Police conducted a thorough investigation into Ankit Sharma's murder. The investigating agencies claimed that Hussain allegedly incited the mob and played a direct or indirect role in the murder.

The AAP had previously expelled Tahir Hussain from the party. This decision has once again reignited the debate over the riots in Delhi politics. 

Ankit Sharma's Mother Expresses Satisfaction Over Judgement

On behalf of the family, Ankit Sharma's mother expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, saying that her son has finally received justice. However, the legal process regarding the entire case is not yet complete. The controversy is likely to continue until the High Court issues its decision following Hussain's appeal.

(With PTI Inputs)


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