A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court is set to deliberate on the interim bail plea of Tahir Hussain, the former councillor and accused in the February 2020 Delhi riots, on January 28. Hussain seeks to participate in the upcoming Assembly elections in Delhi. His request comes after a two-judge bench delivered a split verdict on his earlier plea for interim bail on January 22.
The case, which has garnered significant attention, will be heard by Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol, and Sandeep Mehta. This follows a temporary relief granted by the Delhi High Court allowing Hussain custody parole to file his nomination from the Mustafabad constituency on an All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) ticket. However, the High Court denied his request for extended bail to campaign in the elections, citing the severe nature of the allegations against him as a primary factor in the decision.
Hussain is implicated as a key figure in the riots that erupted in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, which resulted in the deaths of 53 individuals and left many injured. He faces charges under various severe laws, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and is linked directly to the murder case of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma, whose body was discovered with multiple injuries in a canal in the riot-stricken area.
The plea’s previous hearing led to a split decision, with Justice Pankaj Mithal rejecting the plea and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah favoring interim bail. The disagreement prompted the involvement of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who has since arranged for the constitution of the new bench.
