Delhi Riots: High Court Grants Bail To Three Men In IB Officer Ankit Sharma Murder Case, Bail Denied To One

The Delhi High Court on Thursday granted bail to three men, Shoaib Alam, Gulfam and Javed, accused in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.

Justice Navin Chawla however dismissed the bail plea moved by other accused, Nazim, in the case.

Former Aam Aadmi Party Councillor Tahir Hussain is the prime accused in the case. 

FIR 65 of 2020 was registered at Dayalpur police station on the basis of the complaint made by deceased's father.

He had lodged a missing report when his son went missing during the riots. Ankit's body was later recovered from a drain. He was declared as brought dead by GTB hospital.

The complainant's son Ankit Sharma, an Officer working with the Intelligence Bureau, left his house at around 5 pmon the said date for buying groceries and general household items. However, he did not return home even after several hours.

Later, his dead body was found lying in a drain near Chand Bagh Pulia. He had sustained sharp injuries on his head, face, chest, back and on his waist.

Thereafter, an FIR was registered by the complainant stating that he had strong suspicion that his son was killed by the main accused Tahir Hussain and his associates.

The post-mortem report of the deceased Ankit Sharma revealed that there were 51 injuries caused due to sharp edged weapons and blunt force.

In March last year, the trial court framed charges against Tahir Hussain, Haseen, Nazim, Kasim, Sameer Khan, Anas, Firoz, Javed, Gulfam, Shoaib Alam and Muntajim. 

Charges have been framed under sections 147, 148, 153A, 302, 365, 120B, 149, 188 and 153A of Indian Penal Code, 1860. Hussain was additionally charged under sections 505, 109 and 114 of IPC. Accused Nazim was additionally charged under section 25 of the Arms Act.

While framing charges, the trial court observed that it was not necessary for all members of the mob to play some overt act in killing of Ankit Sharma and that as per evidence, the mob was acting in “well prepared manner” to attack Hindus and their properties, signifying existence of prior meeting of their mind.

Counsel for Applicants: Advocate Tara Narula appeared for Shoaib Alam and Gulfam; Advocate Anshu Kapoor, Bilal A Khan and Sidra Khan appeared for Javed and Advocate Abdul Gaffar appered for Nazim

Counsel for Respondent: SPP Rajat Nair along with Advocate Dhruv Pande appeared for the State

Title: SHOAIB ALAM @ BOBBY v. STATE and other connected matters

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 530