Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, May 6: The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Delhi Police to file a response to the bail plea of former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, who is seeking regular bail in connection with the 2020 northeast Delhi riots and the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued a notice to the police and asked them to submit a status report within three weeks. The court has scheduled the next hearing for July.
Hussain's bail application, filed through his advocate Tara Narula, argues that he has been in custody for over five years, and despite efforts by the trial court to expedite the proceedings, it is unlikely that the case will conclude soon. The plea challenges the trial court’s decision from March 12, which had rejected Hussain’s bail request. Hussain's defence also maintains that there is no substantial evidence linking him to the crime.
The application claims that Hussain’s involvement is only that of an "instigator" and that three of the five public witnesses have stated they did not see him at the scene of the crime. The defence further argues that the statements of the two other witnesses are inconsistent and full of contradictions, casting doubt on their credibility.
The plea also questions the testimonies of police witnesses, highlighting serious discrepancies in their statements. The defence raised concerns about the complainant, Ankit Sharma’s father, who had not confirmed the initial complaint, further casting doubt on the police’s version of the events.
Ankit Sharma was last seen on February 25, 2020. His father reported him missing the following day. Local residents later informed him of a body that had been dumped in the Khajuri Khas drain, where Sharma’s body, bearing 51 injury marks, was eventually found.
Prosecutors allege that Hussain was one of the key figures in a violent mob responsible for rioting, arson, and the murder of Sharma during the deadly northeast Delhi riots. The violence, which erupted on February 24, 2020, after clashes between supporters and opponents of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), resulted in at least 53 deaths and many injuries.
The court’s decision to seek a police response will be closely followed, as it could have significant implications for the future of Hussain’s detention.