The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has stated that former councillor Tahir Hussain has had no association with the party since he was suspended from its primary membership on February 27, 2020, shortly after an FIR was registered against him in connection with the northeast Delhi riots.

The clarification came after a Delhi court convicted Hussain in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma, who was killed during the communal violence that took place in northeast Delhi in February 2020.According to the prosecution, Sharma was attacked by a mob and his body was later recovered from a drain.The court convicted Hussain and four others on multiple charges, including murder, promoting enmity, rioting, and rioting with deadly weapons.However, Hussain was acquitted of charges related to criminal conspiracy and abetment.During the pronouncement of the verdict, Hussain reportedly broke down in the courtroom.

Reacting to the conviction, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticised the AAP and said its leaders should apologise for having been associated with Hussain in the past.In response, AAP emphasised that Hussain ceased to be connected with the party immediately after his suspension in 2020.

The party also pointed out that Hussain later contested the Delhi Assembly election from Mustafabad as an AIMIM candidate and claimed that his candidature divided the Muslim vote, ultimately benefiting the BJP candidate in the constituency.The 2020 northeast Delhi riots erupted during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and resulted in 53 deaths and injuries to many others.The case remains one of the most significant legal proceedings arising from the violence.