Delhi Riots: Tahir Hussain Handed Life Term for IB Officer's Brutal Murder

A Delhi court has sentenced former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councilor Tahir Hussain and four others to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Delhi riots. The verdict, delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh on July 31, 2026, concludes a high-profile case that deeply intertwined crime and politics, even as Hussain recently contested elections while incarcerated. The court described the crime as one of 'utmost brutality,' noting that Sharma suffered 51 injuries before his body was dumped in a drain, and stated the victim was targeted 'solely on account of his religion'. While the prosecution sought the death penalty under the 'rarest of rare' doctrine, the court opted for life imprisonment, asserting that there was insufficient evidence to prove the convicts were beyond reformation. This decision has ignited a fresh political slugfest, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding an apology from AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, alleging AAP historical 'protection' of Hussain and his role as a 'mastermind.' Meanwhile, AAP leaders, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, have hit back, claiming Hussain had prior political links with the BJP and was 'indirectly working for them,' further alleging that BJP minister Kapil Mishra supported Hussain's early political career. Hussain, who was expelled from AAP in 2020 and later joined the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) to contest the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections from behind bars, has announced his intention to challenge the conviction and sentence in the Delhi High Court. This ongoing legal battle, alongside other pending cases from the 2020 riots, continues to keep the political and judicial spotlight firmly on the repercussions of the communal violence that rocked Northeast Delhi.