IB officer murder case: Delhi court defers Tahir Hussain sentence hearing to July 27

A Delhi court on Thursday deferred the hearing on the quantum of sentence for former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others convicted in the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma. The matter will now be taken up on July 27 after the defence sought more time to prepare its submissions.

Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh first appeared unwilling to allow more time, saying a convict should not be kept waiting for a sentence. But he later accepted the request, saying the defence should get a proper chance to present its case at a stage where the consequences were serious for the accused.

Appearing for Hussain, advocates Rajiv Mohan and Tara Narula sought time to prepare their arguments on sentencing. The judge initially rejected the request and asked both sides to proceed. He observed, "There are clear directions that once a person is convicted, he cannot be kept under suspense over his sentence."

However, as the prosecution was about to begin its submissions, the judge reconsidered. "I felt that by not accepting your request, I am rushing the matter and not giving you a proper opportunity to represent your case," he said.

The court then directed the defence to file affidavits disclosing the socio-economic status of the convicts and listed the matter for July 27.

On July 13, the court convicted Hussain and four others for the murder of Sharma, who was attacked by a mob and whose body was later found in a drain during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. In its verdict, the court said Hussain was part of a heavily armed mob that had gathered with animus against Hindus to commit rioting, arson and loot, and had murdered Sharma in a "savage and relentless assault".

The court also said the prosecution had proved that members of the unlawful assembly knew that, in pursuing their common object, "death could result and someone could be killed". Hussain was convicted under IPC Sections 302, 365, 147, 148, 153A and 188, read with Section 149.

A Delhi court on Thursday deferred the hearing on the quantum of sentence for former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others convicted in the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma. The matter will now be taken up on July 27 after the defence sought more time to prepare its submissions.

Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh first appeared unwilling to allow more time, saying a convict should not be kept waiting for a sentence. But he later accepted the request, saying the defence should get a proper chance to present its case at a stage where the consequences were serious for the accused.

Appearing for Hussain, advocates Rajiv Mohan and Tara Narula sought time to prepare their arguments on sentencing. The judge initially rejected the request and asked both sides to proceed. He observed, "There are clear directions that once a person is convicted, he cannot be kept under suspense over his sentence."

However, as the prosecution was about to begin its submissions, the judge reconsidered. "I felt that by not accepting your request, I am rushing the matter and not giving you a proper opportunity to represent your case," he said.

The court then directed the defence to file affidavits disclosing the socio-economic status of the convicts and listed the matter for July 27.

On July 13, the court convicted Hussain and four others for the murder of Sharma, who was attacked by a mob and whose body was later found in a drain during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. In its verdict, the court said Hussain was part of a heavily armed mob that had gathered with animus against Hindus to commit rioting, arson and loot, and had murdered Sharma in a "savage and relentless assault".

The court also said the prosecution had proved that members of the unlawful assembly knew that, in pursuing their common object, "death could result and someone could be killed". Hussain was convicted under IPC Sections 302, 365, 147, 148, 153A and 188, read with Section 149.