Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) official Ankit Sharma during the North East Delhi riots in February 2020. The verdict was delivered by additional sessions judge Parveen Singh at the Karkardooma courts in Delhi.

Ankit Sharma's mutilated body was recovered from a drain in the Dayal Pur area following the widespread unrest. The court, in its sentencing, delivered a stern condemnation of the act, describing the crime as "nauseating and sickening." It further underscored the "utmost brutality in name of religion" that was evident in the circumstances surrounding Sharma's death.

During the proceedings, the Delhi Police had advocated for the maximum punishment, the death penalty, for Hussain. Prosecutors depicted Sharma's killing as "exceptionally brutal" and "cold-blooded," emphasising the severity and premeditated nature of the violence.

The judgment swiftly triggered a political exchange between major parties. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the court's order, claiming it served to "establish how AAP-backed miscreants spread riots in north-east Delhi." In response, the Opposition party, without explicitly naming the Aam Aadmi Party but referring to Hussain's former affiliation, countered by alleging that Hussain was "indirectly working for the BJP," thereby shifting blame.

Following the pronouncement of the sentence, Tahir Hussain indicated his intention to challenge the verdict in a higher court, stating, "Not too late, HC will ensure justice."