Former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain has been sentenced to two years in jail in a case linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. (Img: X)
New Delhi: A Delhi court has sentenced former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain to two years’ imprisonment for his role in abetting rioting during the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on him.
The sentence was awarded by Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh of the Karkardooma Courts on Friday after Hussain was convicted in a case relating to the looting and burning of a shop during the communal violence that engulfed parts of northeast Delhi in February 2020.
Hussain was convicted on October 10 under Section 147 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which deals with rioting, read with Section 109, concerning abetment of an offence.
The court acquitted the other accused in the case.
The prosecution alleged that Hussain had facilitated the rioters' activities. The case examined allegations concerning his involvement in the events surrounding the attack on a shop during the violence.
The case stemmed from an incident on February 24, 2020, when a shop belonging to Irshad Ali was allegedly looted and set on fire. The complainant claimed that goods worth approximately ₹17–18 lakh were stolen and that the damage to the property amounted to another ₹10 lakh.
Another complainant, Mohd Zahid, alleged that members of the mob raised slogans in support of Hussain. Two police constables also identified Hussain during the investigation, according to the prosecution.
An FIR was registered at Dayalpur police station under various IPC provisions, including Sections 147, 148, 149, 427, 436 and 120B, relating to rioting, unlawful assembly, mischief, arson and criminal conspiracy.
Hussain is also serving a life sentence in a separate case concerning the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma during the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
The present case concerns allegations arising from the looting and arson incident and is distinct from the murder prosecution. Special Public Prosecutor Madhukar Pandey appeared for the State, while advocate Rajiv Mohan represented Hussain.
