A Delhi court on Saturday convicted former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain in a case linked to the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots, while acquitting the 12 other accused. Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh found Hussain guilty under Section 147 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), relating to rioting, read with Section 109, which deals with abetment. The court has scheduled November 16 to hear arguments on the quantum of sentence, after which it will determine the punishment to be imposed on Hussain in this case.
The case involved 13 accused, including Hussain, Mohammad Shadab, Shah Alam, Riyasat Ali, Gulfam, Rashid, Mohammad Rihan, Mohammad Abid, Arshad Qayyum, Irshad Ahmed, Deepak Singh Saini, Navneet and Mehak Singh. They faced various charges connected to the violence, including rioting, theft in a dwelling house and mischief by fire or explosive substances, among other offences. While the court convicted Hussain on the specified charges, it acquitted the remaining 12 accused. The November hearing will focus on the appropriate sentence for Hussain following the conviction.
The latest verdict is separate from another case involving Hussain that concerns the killing of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the same riots. In July, a Delhi court convicted Hussain and four others in that case. The court found them guilty of offences including murder, promoting enmity, rioting, assault and the use of criminal force. That prosecution arose from a separate investigation into Sharma's death during the violence in northeast Delhi in February 2020.
Also Read: Woman Lawyer Assaulted Inside Assam Government Office, Incident Captured On Camera
The case relating to Sharma's killing originated from a first information report registered at Dayalpur police station following a complaint by his father, Ravinder Kumar. Hussain's name emerged in connection with the case, after which the Aam Aadmi Party suspended him. The two cases concern different allegations arising from the broader period of unrest, and the convictions and acquittals in each matter are determined through separate judicial proceedings. The latest ruling specifically concerns the Dayalpur-area case in which Hussain was convicted alongside the acquittal of the other 12 accused.
The northeast Delhi riots broke out in February 2020 and resulted in 53 deaths, injuries to several others and extensive damage to property worth crores of rupees. The violence affected several neighbourhoods and led to multiple criminal investigations and court cases. Hussain has faced proceedings in more than one case connected to the unrest, with courts examining separate allegations relating to the incidents. In another case associated with the violence, a Delhi court framed charges against Hussain and 10 others in March 2023.
With the latest conviction, the proceedings in this particular case will move to the sentencing stage. The court is scheduled to hear arguments on November 16, when the prosecution and defence can present their submissions concerning the punishment. The acquittal of the 12 co-accused means they were not convicted in this case, while Hussain's conviction remains subject to the applicable legal process. The outcome of the sentencing hearing will determine the immediate next step in the case, which forms part of the wider series of prosecutions arising from the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
Also Read: Over 15,000 Delegates Expected As Thailand Hosts IMF And World Bank Meetings