A Delhi court on November 5, 2022, framed charges against Tahir Hussain and others for conspiring to kill Hindus during the anti-Hindu Delhi riots in February 2020. The court said that Hussain’s clear-cut objective was to harm Hindus.
The court which was hearing the case related to money laundering in the 2020 Delhi riots matter registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), framed the charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). “Thus, I hold that a charge be framed against the accused Tahir Hussain for the offence under Section 3 (offence of money laundering) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act,” the Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat said.
Along with Hussain charges were framed against Shah Alam, Tanvir Malik, Gulfam, Nazim, Kasim, Riyasat Ali, and Liyakat Ali.
“Tahir Hussain, Shah Alam, Nazim, Kasim, Riyasat and Liyakat are liable to be tried for offences u/s 505, 307, 120b and 149 of the Indian Penal Code, in respect of incident related to Ajay Goswami”, the Court of sessions judge Pulastya Paramachala said.
“A number of persons assembled at and around house of Tahir Hussain. Some of them were equipped with firing weapons. Acid, Petrol bombs were also arranged by accumulating materials in house of Tahir Hussain. All these things were done to target Hindus”, the court observed.
“Every member of the mob assembled there, participated in achieving and encouraging others to target Hindus. Such conduct of the members of this mob, show that they were acting out of meeting of their mind and with a clear-cut objective in mind, to kill and harm Hindus”, the court further said.
“All accused are liable to be tried for hatching criminal conspiracy to indulge into riot and kill Hindus and harm properties of Hindus and consequent to such conspiracy firing and causing gunshot injury to Ajay Goswami”, the court added.
“I am of the view that there is sufficient material on record, prima facie, creating grave suspicion against the accused for framing charges against him and to proceed further with the trial”, the court further said.
53 people were killed and around 700 injured in the February 2020 anti-Hindu riots in Delhi following the violent anti-CAA protests organized by Muslims.
