Delhi Court Sentences Former AAP Councillor to Life Imprisonment Amid BJP's Demands for Apology

A Delhi court has sentenced former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain to life imprisonment for the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 riots. The ruling has led to demands from the BJP for an apology from AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who they accuse of providing protection to Hussain. BJP leaders expressed disappointment over the lack of a death sentence, while AAP countered that they acted against Hussain immediately after the FIR was filed. This case continues to stir political tensions in the capital.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 31, 2026, 21:49 IST

Court Ruling on Tahir Hussain

A Delhi court has sentenced former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain to life imprisonment on Friday, following his conviction for the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Delhi riots. The court determined that the case did not fall under the 'rarest of rare' category that would warrant the death penalty.

BJP's Response and Demands

In response to the ruling, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal to apologize. Harsh Malhotra, the president of Delhi BJP, stated that during the riots, Kejriwal and other senior AAP leaders provided protection to Hussain. He asserted, 'This conviction proves that AAP leaders were inciting the riots.'

Malhotra further insisted that Kejriwal should seek forgiveness from the nation. BJP legislator and spokesperson Harish Khurana expressed disappointment that Hussain did not receive the death penalty, stating, 'The family of the deceased Ankit Sharma has received some measure of justice, but we expected a harsher sentence as this is a rare case. He was murdered solely because he was Hindu.'

Khurana emphasized that the court's decision serves as a strong rebuke to Congress and AAP leaders who attempted to communalize the issue, reiterating that Kejriwal should apologize to the country following Hussain's sentencing.

AAP's Counterarguments

In a counter to the BJP's accusations, Saurabh Bhardwaj, president of AAP's Delhi unit, claimed that Hussain was indirectly working for the BJP. He dismissed the BJP's allegations, noting that AAP expelled Hussain immediately after the First Information Report (FIR) was filed in Sharma's murder case. Bhardwaj asserted that while AAP took action against Hussain post-FIR, the BJP continues to support leaders facing serious allegations related to the riots.