New Delhi, 23 July (H.S.): The Karkardooma Court in Delhi will hear arguments on July 27 regarding the quantum of sentence for five convicts, including Tahir Hussain, who were found guilty in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Delhi riots. The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh.

During Thursday’s hearing, the counsel appearing for Tahir Hussain sought adjournment of the hearing on the quantum of sentence. The court, however, observed that the sentencing of any convicted person cannot be kept pending indefinitely. On July 13, the court had convicted five accused in the case while acquitting six others.

Apart from Tahir Hussain, the court convicted Nazim, Qasim, Anas and Javed in the case. It acquitted Haseen alias Mullaji alias Salman, Sameer Khan, Firoz, Gulfam, Shoaib Alam alias Bobby and Muntazim alias Musa.

The Delhi Police Crime Branch had filed a chargesheet in the case on June 3, 2020. According to the chargesheet, on February 24 and 25, 2020, Tahir Hussain allegedly led a mob from his house and the mosque near Chand Bagh Pulia and gave the gathering a communal character. The chargesheet stated that a conspiracy was hatched to murder Ankit Sharma, who was allegedly specifically targeted by the mob led by Tahir Hussain.

The incident took place outside Tahir Hussain’s house in the Khajuri Khas area. After the murder, the mob allegedly threw Sharma’s body into a drain.

According to the police, some people were seen dumping the body into the drain. The post-mortem report of Ankit Sharma revealed 51 injury marks caused by a sharp-edged weapon, doctors had stated.

The police alleged that Tahir Hussain incited the mob in the Chand Bagh area and described him as the mastermind in the chargesheet. A case was registered against Tahir Hussain based on a complaint by Ankit Sharma’s father.

An FIR was registered against Tahir Hussain under Sections 302 (murder), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.

The police also claimed that a large quantity of material allegedly used during the violence was recovered from Tahir Hussain’s terrace.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar