A Delhi court on July 13, 2026, convicted former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain and four others for the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh delivered the verdict, finding the accused guilty of multiple charges, including murder, rioting with deadly weapons, and promoting enmity between different groups. The court acquitted six other individuals who had been facing trial in the same case.
The case stems from the communal violence that erupted in February 2020, which resulted in 53 deaths and widespread property damage. Ankit Sharma, a 26-year-old IB staffer, went missing on February 25, 2020, after leaving his home to fetch supplies. His body was recovered from a drain in the Chand Bagh area the following day. A post-mortem report indicated he had sustained dozens of sharp and blunt force injuries.
In its findings, the court determined that Tahir Hussain was part of a large, heavily armed mob that had gathered with a clear animus against the Hindu community. The judgment noted that the assembly had a shared objective of committing arson, looting, and violence. While the court acknowledged that damaged CCTV cameras in the area suggested a potential conspiracy, it ultimately acquitted the accused of criminal conspiracy charges, stating that the prosecution failed to establish the specific timing and nature of such a plan.
The conviction marks a significant development in one of the most high-profile cases arising from the 2020 riots. Following the incident, the Aam Aadmi Party suspended Hussain from its primary membership. The legal proceedings involved years of investigation, forensic analysis, and witness testimonies. The court is expected to announce the sentencing for the convicted individuals in a subsequent hearing.