The Delhi High Court on Thursday denied bail to former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain booked in the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna passed the order rejecting bail to Hussain.
Sharma was killed during the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. His body was recovered from a drain and the Delhi Police chargesheet said he had sustained multiple stab wounds.
Police investigation and the chargesheet alleged that Sharma was specifically targeted by a mob that dragged him into a house in Jaffrabad, and named a group of accused, including then-AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, in connection with his murder.
In March 2023, Delhi's Karkardooma Court framed murder charges against Hussain and 10 others in he case.
Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala said that as per evidence, Tahir Hussain played the role of instigator to kill Hindus and exhorted the mob to "not spare Hindus".
The Court said that Hussain and others are liable to be tried for offences under Sections 147 (Rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence), 302 (Murder) read with 120B (Criminal Conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Advocates Rajiv Mohan, Tara Narula, Shivangi, Hamendra, Sonal and Shreya Sharma appeared for Tahir Hussain.
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Rajat Nair and Advocate Dhruv Pande appeared for the Delhi Police.