New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday sentenced former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain to two years of imprisonment in a case related to the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. The Karkardooma Court handed down the sentence after finding him guilty of abetting the violence and allowing rioters to use his residence as a base for their attacks.
This marks the second sentencing for Hussain in connection with the February 2020 communal violence, which claimed 53 lives and left hundreds injured. He is already serving a life sentence for his involvement in the brutal murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma during the same period.
While pronouncing the quantum of punishment, the court made strong observations regarding Hussain’s conduct as an elected public representative. The judge noted that, given his position, he was expected to pacify the situation and prevent violence. Instead, he permitted his house to be utilized by the rioters to orchestrate attacks.
The court emphasized that the inability of the prosecution to prove his direct physical participation in the rioting did not dilute the gravity of his offence. “The guiding hand is as guilty, or perhaps even more guilty, than the hand that strikes,” the court remarked.
The case was based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Dayalpur police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including rioting, mischief causing damage, mischief by fire, and criminal conspiracy.
The investigation was initiated following a complaint by Irshad Ali, who stated that on February 24, 2020, his shop was looted and set ablaze, resulting in a loss of goods worth Rs 17-18 lakh and property damage amounting to Rs 10 lakh. Another complainant, Mohammad Zahid, informed the police that the mob was actively shouting slogans in support of Tahir Hussain, a fact later corroborated by two constables during the probe.
The court had previously convicted Hussain in this specific case on October 10 while acquitting all other accused individuals due to a lack of evidence.