Ex-AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain Convicted in IB Staffer's Murder; Claims 'Justice Not Done'

A Delhi court convicted former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain for the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Hussain was also found guilty of promoting enmity between religious groups and rioting. However, the court did not find sufficient evidence to sustain the charge of criminal conspiracy against him.

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Insaaf nahi hua hai

Hussain, who was present in court, broke down as Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh pronounced the guilty verdict. As he was led away, Hussain exclaimed, "Insaaf nahi hua hai (justice has not been done)." Four other individuals, Nazim, Qasim, Javed, and Anas, were also convicted in connection with the case, though not all for murder. The court acquitted six other accused.

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It is very difficult to explain what our family is going through right now. There is a sense of relief because the court has convicted some of the accused, but at the same time, all the painful memories have come rushing back.

The verdict has reopened deep wounds for Sharma's family, who have since moved away from Delhi. A family member described a mix of relief and overwhelming grief, stating that while the conviction brought some closure, it also brought back the painful memories of their loss. "We lost one of the strongest pillars of our family, and no judgment can bring him back," the family member said, according to a PTI report. The family relocated from Delhi months after the incident, citing a persistent sense of fear and now living in rented accommodation in Uttar Pradesh.

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We lost one of the strongest pillars of our family, and no judgment can bring him back.