A Delhi court on Saturday, October 10, 2026, convicted former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain of abetment to rioting in a case linked to the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The court acquitted the 12 other accused of all charges in the case concerning alleged rioting and arson in the Dayalpur area.
Court’s Verdict in the Delhi Riots Case
Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh convicted Hussain under Section 147 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), relating to rioting, read with Section 109, which deals with abetment. He was acquitted of the other charges in this particular case.
The court has scheduled November 16 for hearing arguments on the sentence to be imposed. A detailed written order was still awaited at the time of reporting.
What Was the Case About?
The case arose from an FIR registered at Delhi’s Dayalpur police station following complaints relating to alleged rioting, looting and damage to property during the February 2020 violence.
The 13 accused faced allegations involving rioting, property damage, arson and criminal conspiracy. The court acquitted Hussain’s 12 co-accused of all charges while finding Hussain guilty on two counts and acquitting him of the remaining charges in this case.
Tahir Hussain’s Previous Conviction
This is a separate case from the prosecution relating to the killing of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Hussain was convicted in that murder case in July 2026 and sentenced to life imprisonment, according to published reports.
The latest verdict concerns a different set of allegations and should be understood independently of the murder case.
What Happens Next?
The next step in this case is the hearing on the quantum of sentence, scheduled for November 16. The court will consider the appropriate punishment for the offences on which Hussain was convicted.
The case remains part of the wider legal proceedings arising from the February 2020 violence in northeast Delhi, which claimed 53 lives and caused extensive property damage.
