The Delhi High Court on Thursday rejected the bail plea of former municipal councillor Tahir Hussain in the case related to the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
Justice Neena Bansal upheld the trial court’s March 2025 order refusing bail, noting the gravity of the allegations.
Prosecution’s Case
During earlier hearings, Special Public Prosecutor Rajat Nair and advocate Dhruv Pande for the Delhi Police alleged Hussain played a “direct and active role” in Sharma’s killing. According to the prosecution, Hussain and his associates dragged Sharma from a crowd, stabbed him 51 times, and dumped his body in a drain near Khajuri Khas.
The police further claimed several eyewitnesses had placed Hussain at the scene, accusing him of inciting the mob with provocative slogans. They argued that granting bail would risk witness intimidation and evidence tampering, given Hussain’s influence in the area.
Defence’s Stand
Hussain, who has been in custody for more than 5 years, argued that he was falsely implicated. His counsel said the trial has been progressing slowly despite court directions to expedite proceedings.
The defence also pointed out that of 5 public witnesses, three had exonerated Hussain, while the remaining two gave contradictory statements. They further alleged that police witnesses had made “major improvements” in their testimonies and that even the complainant failed to identify the FIR documents.
Background
On March 24, 2023, the trial court framed murder charges against Hussain and ten others in Sharma’s killing. Sharma, who was reportedly trying to defuse tensions, was found dead with 51 stab wounds during the February 2020 communal violence that claimed over 50 lives in northeast Delhi.
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