New Delhi, July 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Six years after Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma was brutally murdered during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, an Additional Sessions Court on Friday sentenced former Aam Aadmi Party councillor Tahir Hussain and four others to life imprisonment in the case.
The Karkardooma Court, while delivering the verdict, described the crime as extremely brutal, observing that the violence continued even after Sharma’s death and that his body was allegedly dragged and thrown into a drain.
The court’s decision drew reactions from political leaders. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra welcomed the verdict, while Tahir Hussain indicated that he would seek further legal remedies, suggesting that his legal team may challenge the order before a higher court.
The case relates to the communal violence that broke out in North-East Delhi in February 2020 during protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The violence claimed 53 lives and led to the registration of hundreds of cases.
Timeline of the Case
February 17-23, 2020:
Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act intensified in several North-East Delhi areas, including Jaffrabad, Chand Bagh, Maujpur, Khajuri Khas and Karawal Nagar.
February 24, 2020:
Communal violence erupted in parts of North-East Delhi, prompting deployment of Delhi Police.
February 25, 2020:
IB officer Ankit Sharma, 26, went missing after leaving his residence to purchase household items. Investigators later alleged that violence took place around the Chand Bagh area.
February 26, 2020:
Sharma’s body was recovered from a drain. The post-mortem report recorded multiple stab injuries.
February 27, 2020:
Delhi Police formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the murder after Sharma’s father named Tahir Hussain as a suspect. More than 700 FIRs were registered in connection with the riots.
March 2020:
Police arrested Tahir Hussain and claimed to have recovered material from his residence during the investigation.
June 2020:
Police filed a charge sheet running into more than 1,000 pages against 15 accused, alleging Hussain’s role as a key conspirator in the violence.
2021-2022:
Witnesses and investigating officials appeared before the court during the trial proceedings.
March 23, 2023:
The trial court framed charges, including murder and rioting, against Tahir Hussain and 11 others.
2023-2025:
During the trial, the defence argued that the accused was innocent, while the prosecution relied on evidence including call detail records and mobile location data.
July 13, 2026:
The trial court convicted Tahir Hussain and four others in the murder case.
July 31, 2026:
Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh sentenced Tahir Hussain and four others to life imprisonment, describing the crime as “barbaric, nauseating and sickening”.
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