Today, On 24th December, The Delhi High Court issued a notice about the bail plea of AIMIM leader Tahir Hussain in the murder case of IB officer Ankit Sharma. Hussain is accused of being involved in Sharma’s death during the 2020 Delhi riots. The court will hear arguments from both sides before making a decision.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court issued a notice on Tuesday regarding the regular bail petition filed by Tahir Hussain, who recently joined the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) to run in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
This petition relates to the murder case of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma, who was killed during the violence in North East Delhi in 2020.
A bench led by Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta scheduled further arguments for January 15.
Hussain’s petition argues that there is insufficient credible evidence against him and seeks bail based on the principle of parity. It claims that he is accused of being an instigator and co-conspirator. The plea notes that of the 20 prosecution witnesses examined so far, most alleged eyewitnesses have either not supported the prosecution’s case or provided testimony that lacks credibility.
Additionally, the statements from police witnesses contain significant contradictions and embellishments, rendering them unreliable as evidence against Hussain. The remaining public witnesses’ statements largely reflect those of the previously examined witnesses.
In May, the Delhi High Court granted bail to three individuals involved in Ankit Sharma’s murder, emphasizing that bail is the general rule during a trial, while incarceration is the exception. The court highlighted that the accused had been in custody for four years, with no conclusion to the trial in sight.
An FIR was filed by Ankit Sharma’s father in February 2020 after his son went out for groceries and did not return. Concerned for his safety, Sharma’s father later reported him missing.
The Delhi Police state that the four accused were part of a violent mob that killed Sharma and were involved in rioting and arson during the clashes.
The communal violence in northeast Delhi erupted on February 24, 2020, following escalating tensions between supporters of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and protesters, resulting in at least 53 deaths and numerous injuries.