Ankit Saxena Murder Case: HC Issues Notice to Delhi Police on Accused’s Plea

The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Delhi Police regarding an appeal filed by Mohd Salim, who was convicted in the Ankit Saxena murder case. Along with his sister and brother-in-law, Salim was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Ankit Saxena, who had an affair with his sister’s daughter.

A bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Amit Sharma sought a response from the Delhi Police. The nominal role of Salim has also been called upon by jail authorities. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on September 12.

Mohd Salim has challenged the trial court’s judgment that convicted and sentenced him. Advocate Ajay Verma appeared for Salim. The girl’s parents, Akbar Ali and Shehnaz Begam, have also challenged the trial court’s judgment.

Ankit Saxena was murdered in 2018 due to an interfaith love affair. On March 7, 2024, the Tis Hazari Court sentenced Mohd Salim, his sister Shehnaz Begam, and her husband Akbar to life imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each convict, to be given to Ankit Saxena’s mother as compensation. Additionally, Shehnaz Begam was sentenced to three months in prison for assaulting Saxena’s mother and fined Rs 1,000.

The court noted that, based on the facts and evidence, the case did not fall under the category of “rarest of rare” cases, and thus, the death sentence could not be awarded.

The case involved the parents and maternal uncle of a girl who had an affair with Ankit Saxena. On December 23, 2023, the court convicted them of murdering her lover. An FIR was registered at Khyala Police Station against the convicts.

Ankit Saxena, a photographer, was killed by her father and maternal uncle by slitting his throat on a road in West Delhi’s Khyala. ASJ Sharma, after considering the evidence and witness testimonies, convicted Mohd Salim, Akbar Ali, and Shehnaz Begam for the murder. The court found that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt against all accused.

ASJ Sharma emphasized that “truth should be the guiding star in the entire judicial process,” and that justice based on truth is essential for societal peace. The court also referenced the Supreme Court’s reminder in Zahira Habib Ullah Sheikh v. State of Gujarat about the judiciary’s duty to uphold truth, law, and justice.

The prosecution alleged that on the night of February 1, 2018, Ankit Saxena was murdered near Blind University in Raghuveer Nagar by the three convicts and a minor brother of the girl. It was alleged that Mohd Salim held one of Saxena’s hands, the juvenile brother held the other, and Akbar Ali slit Saxena’s throat. Saxena fell on the footpath, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he was declared dead.

An FIR was lodged at Khyala Police Station based on the complaint of Yashpal Saxena. Following the investigation, the Delhi Police filed a charge sheet against Mohd Salim, Akbar Ali, and Shehnaz Begam under Sections 302, 323, and 34 of the IPC. The police listed 28 witnesses, including Yashpal Saxena, who was an eyewitness, and Ankit’s mother and friend, Anmol Singh.