# Delhi riots murder conviction and sentencing > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/delhi-riots-murder-conviction-and-sentencing > Updated: 2026-09-01T03:23:59.000Z. Sources: 44. Developments: 4. The February 2020 northeast Delhi riots led to the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma. Former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four co-accused—Javed, Anas, Nazim, and Kasim—were convicted of murder, kidnapping, rioting, and promoting communal enmity, while six others were discharged for lack of evidence. On 13 July 2026, the Karkardooma court delivered a detailed judgment, describing the unlawful assembly as acting with “animus against Hindus” and noting the mob’s violent assault and disposal of Sharma’s body in a drain. On 31 July 2026, Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh sentenced Hussain and the four co-convicts to life imprisonment, rejecting the death-penalty request as not meeting the “rarest of rare” standard and emphasizing the possibility of reform. Each convict was fined, with Hussain ordered to pay ₹5 lakh and the others ₹25,000. A post-mortem reported 51 injuries to Sharma’s body, 18 caused by sharp-edged weapons. The verdict prompted the victim’s family to demand a death sentence and the BJP to call for further action, while AAP reiterated that Hussain had been expelled in February 2020 and later contested elections as an AIMIM candidate. Tahir Hussain has since approached the Delhi High Court to challenge his conviction and life sentence. In his appeal, Hussain has contended that the investigation was “tainted” and intended to implicate him to satisfy public anger. On 1 September 2026, Justice Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan admitted the appeal and requested a response from the police. The court has ordered jail authorities to provide the convict’s nominal roll and requested trial court records, noting that all connected appeals arising from the same judgment will be heard together. A hearing is scheduled for 2 December 2026. ## Claims - Post‑mortem reported 51 injuries, including 18 caused by sharp‑edged weapons. (corroborated by 26 sources) - Delhi Police had sought the death penalty for the five convicts. (corroborated by 24 sources) - Tahir Hussain and four others were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma. (corroborated by 23 sources) - The murder occurred during the North‑East Delhi riots in February 2020. (corroborated by 22 sources) - Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh presided over the sentencing. (corroborated by 21 sources) - The court rejected the death penalty, stating the convicts were not beyond reformation. (corroborated by 21 sources) - The convicts were also convicted of kidnapping, rioting and promoting enmity. (corroborated by 21 sources) - The sentencing was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh of Karkardooma Court on 31 July 2026. (corroborated by 20 sources) - Six other accused were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. (corroborated by 19 sources) - Tahir Hussain was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma. (corroborated by 18 sources) - Ankit Sharma was killed during the February 2020 Delhi riots. (corroborated by 17 sources) - Ankit Sharma’s body was found dumped in a drain after being dragged there by attackers. (corroborated by 17 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-01: Delhi High Court seeks police response on Tahir Hussain murder appeal The Delhi High Court has admitted an appeal by former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, who is challenging his life sentence for the 2020 murder of an Intelligence Bureau staffer. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/delhi-high-court-seeks-police-response-on-tahir-hussain-murder-appeal ### 2026-08-26: Tahir Hussain appeals conviction in Ankit Sharma murder case Former councillor Tahir Hussain has appealed his life sentence in the 2020 murder of IB official Ankit Sharma during the North East Delhi riots. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tahir-hussain-appeals-conviction-in-ankit-sharma-murder-case ### 2026-07-31: Tahir Hussain sentenced to life for IB officer murder Delhi court sentenced former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others to life for killing IB officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Delhi riots, rejecting a death‑penalty plea. 38 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tahir-hussain-sentenced-to-life-for-murder-of-ib-officer-ankit-sharma ### 2026-07-13: Former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain convicted in 2020 Delhi riots murder case Delhi court convicted ex‑AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and four others for the 2020 murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma, citing anti‑Hindu motive; BJP attacks AAP, while the party says Hussain was expelled; July ‑ 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/former-aap-councillor-tahir-hussain-convicted-in-delhi-riots-murder-case --- Cite as: Delhi riots murder conviction and sentencing. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/delhi-riots-murder-conviction-and-sentencing