Tahir Hussain Ankit Sharma Conviction: Karkardooma Court Delivers Verdict
On July 13, 2026, the Karkardooma Court in Delhi convicted former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four co-accused for the murder of Intelligence Bureau Security Assistant Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh pronounced the verdict, convicting Hussain alongside Javed, Anas, Nazim, and Kasim, according to LiveLaw.
Background: How We Got Here
The northeast Delhi communal violence erupted on February 23, 2020, amid widespread protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The riots left approximately 53 people dead and hundreds injured over several days of clashes.
Ankit Sharma, a 26-year-old Security Assistant with the Intelligence Bureau, lived in Khajuri Khas, northeast Delhi. On February 25, 2020, he stepped out of his home at approximately 5:00 PM to buy groceries and never returned, as reported by NewsDrum.
- February 26, 2020: Sharma’s body was recovered from a drain near Chand Bagh Pulia, Khajuri Khas. The post-mortem report revealed 51 injuries caused by sharp-edged weapons and blunt force, per LiveLaw.
- February 26, 2020: FIR No. 65 of 2020 was registered at Dayalpur Police Station on the complaint of Sharma’s father, Ravinder Kumar, naming Tahir Hussain — then MCD councillor from Mustafabad ward — and associates.
- March 11, 2020: Tahir Hussain surrendered before a Delhi court and was taken into custody, per NewsDrum.
- June 3, 2020: The Delhi Police Crime Branch filed a chargesheet against Hussain and the co-accused.
- March 23, 2023: The Karkardooma Court framed charges against all 11 accused in the case, per ANI and LiveLaw.
- September 2025: The Delhi High Court rejected Tahir Hussain’s bail plea in this case, as reported by LiveLaw.
The case was registered as State vs. Mohd. Tahir Hussain & Others under FIR No. 65 of 2020 at Dayalpur Police Station, per LiveLaw and ANI.
The Ruling — Key Findings
Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh of Karkardooma Courts convicted Tahir Hussain under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 365 (kidnapping), 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), and 188 (disobedience of public servant’s order), according to LiveLaw.
Hussain was, however, acquitted of charges under IPC Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) and Section 129, per LiveLaw. The distinction is significant: while the court found him guilty of active participation in the mob violence, it did not return a finding of pre-planned conspiracy against him.
At the charge-framing stage, the trial court had observed: “He instigated the mob when Ankit came forward towards this mob. The conspiracy need not be specific to kill Ankit.”
Six of the original 11 accused were fully acquitted: Haseen alias Mullaji alias Salman, Feroz, Gulfam, Shoib Alam alias Bobby, Muntajim alias Musa, and Sameer, as reported by ANI.
As of the date of the verdict, the quantum of sentence had not yet been decided. The court fixed a subsequent date for hearing arguments on sentencing, per IndiaNewsStream and NewsDrum.
Among the convicted, Tahir Hussain, Nazim, and Kasim remained in custody. The remaining convicted accused — Javed and Anas — had been granted bail during the course of the trial, per LiveLaw.
Reactions & What’s Next
Tahir Hussain broke down in court upon hearing the judgment, according to ANI. The emotional scene underscored the gravity of a verdict that has been anticipated since the case first captivated national attention in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 riots.
The court is yet to fix sentencing for the five convicted accused. Sentencing arguments are scheduled to be heard on a later date, as confirmed by Bar & Bench. Under IPC Section 302, murder carries a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.
The verdict closes the trial phase of one of the most high-profile criminal cases to emerge from the northeast Delhi violence — a series of riots that killed approximately 53 people over four days in February 2020.
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Who is Tahir Hussain and what was he convicted for?
Tahir Hussain is a former AAP councillor who was elected from the Mustafabad ward in 2017. On July 13, 2026, the Karkardooma Court convicted him under IPC Sections 302, 365, 153A, 147, 148, 149, and 188 for the murder of IB Security Assistant Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
Who was Ankit Sharma and how did he die?
Ankit Sharma was a 26-year-old Security Assistant with the Intelligence Bureau, residing in Khajuri Khas, northeast Delhi. He went missing on February 25, 2020, after stepping out to buy groceries. His body was recovered the following day from a drain near Chand Bagh Pulia, bearing 51 injuries from sharp-edged weapons and blunt force.
What is the FIR number in the Ankit Sharma murder case?
The case is registered as FIR No. 65 of 2020 at Dayalpur Police Station, filed on February 26, 2020, on the complaint of Ankit Sharma’s father, Ravinder Kumar.
Has the sentence been announced?
No. As of July 13, 2026, the Karkardooma Court had only pronounced the conviction. The quantum of sentence was not decided on the same day, and the court fixed a later date for sentencing arguments.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws may change or vary by case — consult a qualified lawyer before acting. The Courtroom is not liable for any reliance on this content.
