A Karkardooma court in Delhi has delivered its verdict in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma, who was killed during the February 2020 riots in North-East Delhi. The court sentenced all five convicts, including former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain, alongside Naseem, Kasim, Anas, and Javed, to life imprisonment. The ruling comes after extensive judicial proceedings into the high-profile case that occurred during the communal violence in the national capital.
Court Highlights Extreme Cruelty and Brutality of Crime
While pronouncing the quantum of sentence, Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh made stern observations regarding the nature of the crime. The court emphasized that the assault on Ankit Sharma was executed with extreme ferocity and absolute brutality. According to the judicial observations, the perpetrators did not stop even after the victim succumbed to his injuries. The convicts dragged Ankit Sharma's body to the nearby Chand Bagh area before throwing it into a local drain. Judge Praveen Singh noted that leaving the deceased officer's body in such a manner was akin to treating a human body like an animal, adding that the incident deeply shook societal conscience.
Tahir Hussain Rejects Verdict, Vows High Court Appeal
Following the court's announcement of life sentences, former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain rejected the judgment while being escorted from the courtroom. Expressing his decision to challenge the sentence in a higher judicial forum, Tahir Hussain stated that he would approach the High Court for relief. "We will go to the High Court, and we will get justice from the High Court," Tahir Hussain declared, alleging that the trial outcome was biased and claiming that the match was fixed.
Defense Counsel Prepares Appeal Process for Co-Accused
Legal representatives for the co-accused in the Ankit Sharma murder trial have also initiated steps to challenge the Karkardooma court's verdict. Advocate Abdul Gaffar Khan, who represents some of the co-convicts in the case, clarified his team's strategy regarding the upcoming legal recourse. Khan noted that while he does not represent Tahir Hussain, his clients intend to exhaust their legal remedies immediately. He confirmed that an appeal challenging the life sentences will be formally filed in the Delhi High Court within a week on behalf of the convicts he represents.
