SC gives split verdict on former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain's interim bail plea
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court issued a split decision on Wednesday on a petition filed by a former councillor and Delhi riots accused Tahir Hussain for interim bail to campaign for assembly elections.
While Justice Pankaj Mithal dismissed Hussain's request, saying no case had been made out, Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah suggested he be placed on interim bail.
The matter would be placed before Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna for the constitution of a new bench to decide the issue.
Violence broke out in northeast Delhi on February 24, 2020, during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The violence claimed the lives of more than 50 people, mostly Muslims.
The catalyst for the riots, according to media reports citing locals, is widely acknowledged to have been a comment by Kapil Mishra, a BJP leader, who on February 23 issued a public ultimatum declaring that if the police did not clear the streets of the anti-CAA protests, his supporters would be “forced to hit the streets.”
The Delhi Police however booked human rights activists, politicians and student leaders accusing them of being the "masterminds" and instigators of the violence, PTI reported.
Hussain is accused in a case connected to the death of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma.
According to the prosecution, on February 26, 2020, complainant Ravinder Kumar informed the Dayalpur Police Station that his son Sharma had been missing since February 25, 2020.
His mortal remains were reportedly recovered from Khajuri Khas nullah in the riot-affected area and his body bore 51 injuries.