A Delhi court has sentenced former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain to two years’ imprisonment for abetting rioting during the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The court has also imposed a fine of ₹10,000 on Hussain, who is currently serving a life sentence in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma.
Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh of the Karkardooma Courts passed the sentencing order, observing that Hussain’s alleged role in facilitating the use of his house by rioters could not be viewed lightly merely because the prosecution had not established his direct participation in the violence.
The court underscored the distinction between physically participating in a riot and facilitating the actions of those involved in it, emphasising that responsibility for enabling violence could be equally grave.
Hussain was convicted on October 10 under Section 147 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), dealing with rioting, read with Section 109, which prescribes punishment for abetment of an offence where the act abetted is committed and no specific punishment is otherwise provided. The court acquitted the remaining accused in the case.
The proceedings arose from an incident reported on February 24, 2020, when a shop belonging to Irshad Ali was allegedly looted and set ablaze. According to the complaint, the incident resulted in losses of approximately ₹17–18 lakh in stolen goods and a further ₹10 lakh in property damage.
Another complainant, Mohd Zahid, alleged that members of the rioting mob raised slogans in support of Hussain. During the investigation, two police constables also identified Hussain, according to the prosecution’s case.
The FIR was registered at Dayalpur police station under Sections 147, 148, 149, 427, 436 and 120B of the IPC, relating to rioting, unlawful assembly, mischief and criminal conspiracy, among other offences.
Special Public Prosecutor Madhukar Pandey appeared for the State, while Hussain was represented by advocate Rajiv Mohan.
Hussain is also serving a life sentence in the separate case concerning the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
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