Delhi Riots: Police to appeal against acquittal of 6 persons in IB officer Ankit Sharma murder case

The Delhi High Court was today informed that the Delhi Police will appeal against the acquittal of 6 persons who were accused in the death of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the Delhi Riots of 2020.

This submission was made before the Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan, which was hearing the appeal filed by two convicts in the case, Nazim and Kasim.

Special Counsel for Delhi Police Rajat Nair stated,

“State is also preferring an appeal. There are six accused who have been acquitted. We are in process.”

The Court recorded the submission and issued notice to Delhi Police in the appeal against conviction by Nazim and Kasim.

"We will issue notice today. These appeals arise out of the judgment dated July 13 by which the appellant has been convicted. They have been sentenced for rigourous imprisonment for life under various provisions...The State is also preferring an appeal as there are 6 accused who were acquitted by the trial court. They are in the process. List for consideration of application."

The next date of hearing is December 2.

On July 13 this year, the trial court convicted former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain and 4 others for the murder of Ankit Sharma.

Hussain was convicted for offences under Sections 188 (disobedience to an order promulgated by a public servant), 153A (promoting enmity between groups), 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent to secretly and wrongfully confine a person), and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

The Court also convicted Nazir, Kasim, Javed and Anas for the same offences and acquitted 6 others.

The First Information Report (FIR) in the matter was lodged on a complaint by Ankit Sharma's father, Ravinder Kumar, on February 26, 2020.

He alleged that demonstrations by anti-CAA and pro-CAA protesters went on for 2-3 days at Chand Bagh Pulia, Main Karawal Nagar Road, in which incidents of stone pelting, brick batting, arson, firing and sabotage had taken place from both sides.

He claimed that Hussain, the then Municipal Councillor whose office was nearby, had gathered many goons in his office. With their help, he had pelted stones, petrol bombs and also fired shots from the rooftop of the office, creating an atmosphere of fear among the public.

Ravinder further alleged that on February 25, 2020, his son went out to buy household goods but did not return for a long time, prompting him to file a missing persons complaint. He was informed by locals that a boy had been thrown into the Khajuri Khas nala from the Masjid of Chand Bagh pulia after he was killed.

Subsequently, Ankit's body was recovered from Khajuri Khas nala near Chand Bagh Pulia.

In his complaint, Ravinder raised strong suspicion that his son was killed by Tahir Hussain and his goons, who had gathered in his office and, after killing his son, threw his body into the drain.