Why Tahir Hussain's Case Was 'Rarest of Rare' in Delhi Police's View
Tahir Hussain Life-Imprisonment: Delhi Police sought the death penalty for ex-AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain, arguing his role in the IB officer murder qualified as a 'rarest of rare' case.
New Delhi, July 31: A Delhi court on Friday awarded life imprisonment to AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain and four others for the brutal murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Delhi riots. While the Additional Sessions Judge observed that the convicts are not beyond reformation, the Delhi Police argued otherwise. The officials urged the court to award the death penalty, given the brutality of the crime. They said the accused had "fallen to the level of being animals" while relentlessly assaulting Sharma.
The police submitted before Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh that the convicts should not be shown any mercy, as they had shown none while subjecting Sharma to a brutal and merciless fatal assault. They added that the convicts did not stop even after Sharma died and continued to torture his body, revealing the diabolical nature of the crime.
"Ankit Sharma was abducted and relentlessly assaulted before he was killed. A total of 51 wounds were found on his body; 18 of those were inflicted with sharp weapons. The nature of the weapons used shows the intent and diabolical nature of the crime. They fell to the level of being animals. Even after the victim died, they continued the assault," said Special Public Prosecutor Madhukar Pandey.
"This was a cold-blooded murder. These people turned into butchers during the crime. There was not even a single piece of clothing on Sharma's body except his underwear. These people should be kept behind bars and given the death sentence," he said.
The Delhi Police also argued that the victim had never provoked anyone, but it was the convicts who involved themselves in the heinous murder of the IB officer.
"Those who did not show mercy to people during the riots should not be entitled to seek mercy," Pandey added.
A Reform's Hope
However, the court based its judgement on the fact that the prosecution was unable to prove that the convicts were beyond reformation.
Advocate Rajiv Mohan argued that Hussain should be given a chance to reform, citing his good conduct during police custody.
Also representing Hussain, advocate Tara Narula contended that Hussain is the sole breadwinner of his family and has a wife and three children.
"All three children were minors when he surrendered. Though his application was rejected by the Rouse Avenue Court due to lack of jurisdiction, it should be taken into consideration that he voluntarily surrendered. His guidance will be required as his daughter grows up," she argued.
The judgement is likely to be challenged in the higher courts, as Delhi Home Minister Kapil Mishra said on Friday that he hoped the High Court would convert the life sentence into a death sentence.
The matter was heard on July 13, and the judgement was reserved until July 31.
