2020 Delhi riots: Court convicts Tahir Hussain of abetment to rioting, acquits 12 others

A Delhi court on Saturday convicted former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain of abetment to rioting in a case linked to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, while acquitting his 12 co-accused of all charges.

Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh convicted Hussain under Section 147 (punishment for rioting) read with Section 109 (abetment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), while acquitting him of the remaining charges.

The court listed the matter for November 16 to hear arguments on the quantum of sentence. The detailed order is awaited.

Hussain, who was expelled from the Aam Aadmi Party in February 2020 after an FIR was registered against him in connection with the riots, joined the Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, in 2024. He contested the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections on an AIMIM ticket but lost.

The case relates to an FIR registered at Dayalpur police station on a complaint by Ravinder Kumar, father of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma.

The 13 accused, including Hussain, were charged with offences including rioting, damage to property, mischief by fire and criminal conspiracy. The court convicted Hussain on two counts and acquitted him of the other charges, while clearing the remaining 12 accused of all charges.

In July, a Delhi court had convicted Hussain and four others in a separate case related to Sharma's killing during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots.

Hussain was suspended by the AAP after his name surfaced in the case.

The riots broke out in northeast Delhi in February 2020, leaving 53 people dead, injuring several others and causing extensive damage to property.