NEW DELHI: Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain has been convicted by a Delhi court for abetment for rioting in a case linked to the February 2020 Northeast Delhi riots, marking his second conviction in connection with the violence that rocked the national capital.
Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Singh of the Karkardooma Courts delivered the verdict on Saturday in a case registered at Dayalpur police station. However, the court acquitted Hussain of the other charges in this case and cleared seven co-accused of all charges.
The conviction brings renewed attention to the criminal cases arising from the communal violence of February 2020, when several parts of Northeast Delhi witnessed rioting, arson, looting and loss of life.
Hussain has previously been convicted in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma and sentenced to life imprisonment. The latest verdict is a separate judicial proceeding and must be understood in the context of the specific charges and evidence considered by the court.
Shop looted and set on fire during the riots
The case arose from FIR No. 120/2020, registered at Dayalpur police station following a complaint by Irshad Ali, who stated that the shop where he worked was looted on February 24, 2020.
According to the complaint, the accused allegedly broke open the shop’s shutter and set the premises on fire. Ali estimated that the theft of goods caused losses of approximately Rs 17–18 lakh, while damage to the building resulted in a further loss of around Rs 10 lakh.
A second complainant, Mohd. Zahid, alleged that rioters were raising slogans in Hussain’s name and declaring their support for him during the violence.
These allegations formed part of the prosecution’s case. The court’s conviction of Hussain for abetment for rioting represents the finding reached on that offence; the acquittals on the remaining charges must also be acknowledged.
How investigators identified Hussain
According to the prosecution account outlined in the case, two police constables identified Hussain during the investigation, stating that they recognised him because he was a public figure whom they already knew.
Hussain was formally arrested on April 21, 2020, at Mandoli Jail, where he was already lodged in judicial custody in connection with another riots case.
The FIR invoked provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to rioting, rioting while armed with a deadly weapon, unlawful assembly, mischief causing property damage, mischief by fire and criminal conspiracy.
The court’s detailed order is awaited. That order is expected to provide the full reasoning behind the conviction and acquittals, including the court’s assessment of the evidence and the individual charges.
Seven co-accused acquitted
The court acquitted seven other accused in the case: Md. Shadab, Shah Alam, Riyasat Ali, Gulfam, Md. Rihan, Arshad Qayyum and Irshad Ahmed. Their acquittal is a significant part of the verdict and underscores that criminal responsibility must be determined individually on the evidence presented against each accused.
Hussain’s conviction for one offence does not mean that every allegation levelled in the FIR was established, nor does it negate the court’s decision to acquit the other accused.
The latest verdict is Hussain’s second conviction in cases arising from the 2020 riots. He was earlier convicted in the murder case of IB staffer Ankit Sharma and sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his life.
