New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday ordered the framing of charges of rioting and murder against former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Tahir Hussain in a case related to Northeast Delhi riots in 2020 and observed that the mob hatched a conspiracy to "kill Hindus and harm their properties".
Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala said Hussain and five others indulged in allegedly targeting Hindus and their acts were prejudicial to the harmony between Muslims and Hindus.
The five other accused are Tanvir Malik, Gulfam, Nazim, Kasim, and Shah Alam. The court was hearing a case registered by Ajay Jha, who was allegedly shot at by a mob near Chand Bagh on February 25, 2020.
"I find all accused persons liable to be tried for offences punishable under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with Sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 153A (promoting enmity between classes), and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code," the judge said in an order dated October 13, reported news agency PTI.
The Additional Sessions judge further ordered framing of charges against all the accused under Sections 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC.
"They are also found liable to be tried for offences punishable under Sections 147, 148, 307 read with 120B and 149 of the IPC… and offences punishable under Section 153A read with 120B and 149 of the IPC," the judge said.
According to report, Jha said that as he reached near Tahir Hussain's house in February 2020, he saw a number of people on the terrace firing gunshots and pelting petrol bombs at nearby houses. The mob was also allegedly raising religious slogans, Jha said.
According to the report, special public prosecutor Madhukar Pandey said that the substantive offence was framed for the charge of attempt to murder. Gulfam and Tanveer were also liable to be tried under the Arms Act, the court said.
(With inputs from Varun Jain)