The Delhi High Court was informed on Wednesday that the Delhi Police will challenge the acquittal of six accused in the case relating to the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Delhi riots.
The submission was made before a Bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Vikas Mahajan, which was hearing appeals filed by two convicts, Nazim and Kasim, challenging their conviction in the case.
Delhi Police Special Counsel Rajat Nair told the court that the State is in the process of appealing the acquittal of six individuals. The High Court recorded the submission and issued notice to the Delhi Police on the appeals filed by Nazim and Kasim.
The Court noted that the appeals arose from the trial court’s July 13 judgment convicting the accused and sentencing them to rigorous imprisonment for life under various provisions of law. It also recorded that the State intended to challenge the acquittal of six other accused.
On July 13, a trial court convicted former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain and four others for the murder of Ankit Sharma.
Hussain was convicted under Sections 188, 153A, 147, 148, 149, 365 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code. Nazir, Kasim, Javed and Anas were also convicted under the same provisions, while six other accused were acquitted. The FIR was registered on February 26, 2020, on the complaint of Ankit Sharma’s father, Ravinder Kumar.
According to the complaint, anti-CAA and pro-CAA demonstrations had continued for several days at Chand Bagh Pulia on Main Karawal Nagar Road, during which incidents of stone pelting, arson, firing and other violence allegedly took place.
Ravinder alleged that Hussain, who was then the local municipal councillor and whose office was situated nearby, had gathered several persons at his office. He alleged that they pelted stones, hurled petrol bombs and fired shots from the rooftop, creating fear among local residents.
He further stated that on February 25, 2020, his son had left home to purchase household items but failed to return. After a missing-person complaint was lodged, locals allegedly informed the family that a young man had been killed and his body thrown into the Khajuri Khas drain from the vicinity of the Chand Bagh mosque. Ankit Sharma’s body was subsequently recovered from the Khajuri Khas drain near Chand Bagh Pulia.
In his complaint, Ravinder had expressed suspicion that his son was killed by Hussain and others who had allegedly gathered at Hussain’s office, after which his body was thrown into the drain.
The High Court will next hear the matter on December 2.
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