Tahir Hussain convicted: Why was the former AAP councillor convicted in murder case of IB officer Ankit Sharma

A Delhi court on Monday convicted former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma, who was killed during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Hussain broke down in court after the verdict was pronounced.

What did the court rule?

Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh convicted Tahir Hussain, Nazim, Kashim, Javed and Anas for rioting, unlawful assembly and other offences.

The court also convicted Tahir Hussain for promoting enmity between two communities. However, all five were acquitted of the charge of criminal conspiracy.


The court acquitted six other accused—Haseen alias Mullaji alias Salman, Feroz, Gulfam, Shoib Alam alias Bobby, Muntajim alias Musa and Sameer—of all charges.

A detailed copy of the judgment is yet to be uploaded, and certified copies will be provided to the accused.

Who were named in the chargesheet?

The Delhi Police chargesheet named former MCD councillor Tahir Hussain, Haseen alias Mullaji alias Salman, Nazim, Kasim, Sameer Khan, Anas, Firoz, Javed, Gulfam, Shoib Alam alias Bobby and Muntajim alias Musa as accused in the case.

What charges were framed?

On March 23, 2023, the Karkardooma Court framed charges against the accused under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal conspiracy (Section 120B), rioting (Sections 147 and 148), promoting enmity between communities (Section 153A) and murder (Section 302).

Additional charges included kidnapping (Section 365), unlawful assembly (Section 149), disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant (Section 188), and other related offences.

The court also framed charges under the Arms Act against Haseen alias Salman and Nazim.

Apart from the murder-related charges, Tahir Hussain was also held liable to face trial under Section 505 of the IPC for provocative statements and under Sections 109 and 114 for abetment, read with provisions relating to rioting, unlawful assembly, promoting enmity and murder.

Muntajim alias Musa was additionally charged under Section 174A of the IPC for being a proclaimed offender.

How did the case unfold?

The case was registered on February 26, 2020, after Ravinder Kumar, Ankit Sharma's father, lodged a complaint at Dayalpur police station.

According to the complaint, anti-CAA and pro-CAA demonstrations had been taking place for two to three days near Chand Bagh Pulia on Main Karawal Nagar Road. The protests allegedly witnessed stone-pelting, arson, firing and vandalism from both sides.

Ravinder Kumar alleged that Tahir Hussain, then an MCD councillor, had gathered a large group of people at his office near Chand Bagh Pulia. He claimed that stones, petrol bombs and bullets were fired from the rooftop of Hussain's office, creating panic in the area.

What happened to Ankit Sharma?

According to the complaint, Ankit Sharma returned home from work on February 25, 2020, and left again around 5 pm to buy household items. When he did not return, his family searched nearby hospitals and surrounding areas but could not locate him.

A missing report was filed the next morning at Dayalpur police station.

Later, local residents informed the family that a body had been thrown into the Khajuri Khas drain after the victim had been killed near Chand Bagh Pulia.

Police recovered Ankit Sharma's body from the Khajuri Khas drain. According to the complaint, his clothes were missing except for his underwear.

The complaint further alleged that Sharma had sustained multiple sharp injuries to his head, face, chest, back and waist. It also stated that parts of his body, including his face, had been burnt with acid, allegedly to conceal his identity.

He was taken to GTB Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.