Tahir Hussain, Suspended AAP Councillor, Files Anticipatory Bail Plea In Karkardooma Court

Suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, who is absconding from the police over his alleged involvement in the northeast Delhi’s communal violence, on Tuesday moved an anticipatory bail in Karkardooma court. The court will hear his plea on Wednesday. Sessions Judge Sudhir Kumar Jain will be hearing suspended Hussain's bail petition, according to India Today. On Thursday, an FIR was registered against Hussain for allegedly being involved in the killing of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma, police said.

Ankit Sharma, an Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer, was found dead in a drain near his home in northeast Delhi’s riot-hit Chand Bagh area. His family members alleged that Hussain and his associates were behind the killing.

On the complaint of Ankit’s father, the police registered an FIR against Hussain, who has rejected the charge. The complaint was given by Sharma’s father, following which a case was registered under sections 365 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The AAP, was unequivocal in its assertion that strict action should be taken against those who incited communal violence in northeast Delhi. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a press conference said there should not be any politics over the country’s security and sought strictest punishment for the rioters.

No rioter, whichever political party they belong to, should be spared and if anyone from the AAP is found guilty, double punishment should be given, said Kejriwal, who is also the national convener of the party. “The police does not come under me. If I had the Police, we would have taken strict action against those involved in violence,” the chief minister said.

To a query about the allegation against Hussain, a visibly agitated Kejriwal said: “Why are you asking for remarks?... Is this how we will run our criminal justice system? Whoever has incited violence, there should be strictest action. No one, be it they belong to the BJP, the AAP and the Congress, should be spared.”

“If my minister is involved in violence, take strict action...If anyone from AAP is found guilty, double punishment should be given,” he said.

At least 47 people were killed and over 250 injured in the communal clashes that broke out in northeast Delhi after violence between anti- and pro-Citizenship (Amendment) Act groups spiralled out of control.

Frenzied mobs torched houses, shops, vehicles, a petrol pump and pelted stones at local residents and police personnel. Jaffrabad, Maujpur, Babarpur, Yamuna Vihar, Bhajanpura, Chand Bagh, Shiv Vihar are among the areas mainly affected by the riots.

(With PTI inputs)