The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the police to respond to the bail application of former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, who is implicated in the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma during the northeast Delhi riots in February 2020. Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta issued a notice regarding Hussain’s appeal against a December 3 trial court decision that denied him bail citing a lack of significant change in circumstances.
Hussain has been incarcerated for nearly five years since the riots, with the trial currently underway. Out of the 114 listed prosecution witnesses, 20 have been examined thus far. His plea, submitted through advocate Tara Narula, argues for bail on the grounds of prolonged detention and the likelihood of an extended trial due to the numerous witnesses yet to be heard.
The plea also highlighted that other co-accused individuals, allegedly part of the same riotous mob responsible for the murder, have been granted bail by the high court. This point underpins the argument for Hussain’s entitlement to similar legal relief.
The case centers on the events of late February 2020, when communal clashes erupted in northeast Delhi over the citizenship amendment law, resulting in at least 53 fatalities and numerous injuries. The violence escalated dramatically, leading to significant rioting and arson.
According to the prosecution, Ankit Sharma was reported missing on February 26, 2020, after last being seen the previous day. His body was later discovered in the Khajuri Khas drain, bearing 51 injuries, an act attributed to the violent mob Hussain is accused of participating in.
