Delhi HC to hear Nazim, Kasim appeals in IB officer Ankit Sharma murder case
Synopsis
Five years after IB officer Ankit Sharma was killed during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots, two of the five life-term convicts — Nazim and Kasim — have moved the Delhi High Court challenging their conviction. With bail applications also in play, the case that shook the national conscience is back in the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
Convicts Nazim and Kasim have filed criminal appeals before the Delhi High Court challenging their life sentences in the Ankit Sharma murder case .
The appeals are scheduled before a Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M.
Singh and Vikas Mahajan on Wednesday .
The Karkardooma Court had convicted five persons — including former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain — and sentenced all to life imprisonment .
Delhi Police had sought the death penalty , citing 51 injuries on Sharma's body; the trial court declined.
Ankit Sharma's body was recovered from a drain in Khajuri Khas on 26 February 2020 during riots that claimed 53 lives .
The Delhi High Court is set to hear the criminal appeals of convicts Nazim and Kasim on Wednesday, who were sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. Both convicts have challenged their conviction and sentence before a Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan.
The Appeals Filed
Nazim has filed Criminal Appeal No. 764/2026, along with an application seeking suspension of sentence and bail. Kasim has filed Criminal Appeal No. 766/2026 with a similar plea. Both appeals arise from the judgment of the Karkardooma Court, which convicted them alongside former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain, Javed, and Anas in connection with Sharma's killing.
What the Trial Court Decided
The trial court convicted all five — Hussain, Javed, Anas, Nazim, and Kasim — under multiple sections of the IPC, including Section 302 (murder), Section 365 (kidnapping), Section 153A (promoting enmity between groups), and Sections 147 and 148 (rioting). All five were subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.
However, all five were acquitted of the charge of criminal conspiracy under Section 120B of the IPC. Six other accused were also acquitted, with the court holding that the prosecution failed to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The Sentencing and Delhi Police's Stand
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Praveen Singh, while pronouncing the sentence, described the crime as a 'very serious' incident and observed that Sharma was 'brutally murdered' and his body left 'like an animal', adding that the incident had 'shaken the conscience of society.'
Delhi Police had sought the death penalty for the convicts, characterising Sharma's killing as a 'cold-blooded' and 'brutal' murder and citing 51 injuries found on his body. The defence opposed capital punishment, arguing the case did not fall within the 'rarest of rare' category warranting a death sentence.
The Case Background
The body of IB officer Ankit Sharma was recovered from a drain in the Khajuri Khas area on 26 February 2020, amid the communal violence that engulfed North-East Delhi. According to the prosecution, Sharma was caught in the violence near his residence on 25 February 2020, when clashes broke out between two groups near Chand Bagh Pulia. He was allegedly abducted by a mob, assaulted, and stabbed multiple times before his body was dumped into a nearby drain.
An FIR was registered at the Dayalpur police station on the complaint of Sharma's father, Ravinder Kumar, who alleged his son had stepped out to buy household items and never returned. The 2020 North-East Delhi riots claimed 53 lives, left several injured, and caused extensive damage to property.
What Happens Next
With the High Court now set to examine the appeals, the legal proceedings in one of the most high-profile cases to emerge from the 2020 Delhi riots enter a fresh phase. The outcome of the bail and sentence-suspension applications will be closely watched, given the gravity of the original conviction.
Point of View
All five convicts were acquitted of criminal conspiracy, a significant gap in the prosecution's case that the defence will likely exploit at the appellate stage. With former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain also a co-convict, the case carries political weight that has not diminished with time.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Nazim and Kasim in the Ankit Sharma murder case?
Nazim and Kasim are two of five persons convicted by the Karkardooma Court for the murder of IB officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment and have now approached the Delhi High Court challenging their conviction and sentence.
What happened to IB officer Ankit Sharma?
Ankit Sharma, an Intelligence Bureau officer, was allegedly abducted by a mob, assaulted, and stabbed multiple times near Chand Bagh Pulia in North-East Delhi on 25 February 2020. His body was recovered from a drain in the Khajuri Khas area the following day, 26 February 2020.
Who else was convicted in the Ankit Sharma murder case?
Besides Nazim and Kasim, the Karkardooma Court convicted former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain, Javed, and Anas — all five receiving life sentences. Six other accused were acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence.
Why was the death penalty not awarded in the Ankit Sharma case?
Delhi Police sought the death penalty, citing 51 injuries on Sharma's body and describing the killing as cold-blooded. The trial court declined, as the defence successfully argued the case did not meet the 'rarest of rare' threshold required for capital punishment under Indian law.
What is the current status of the case at the Delhi High Court?
The criminal appeals filed by Nazim (Criminal Appeal No. 764/2026) and Kasim (Criminal Appeal No. 766/2026) are listed before a Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M. Singh and Vikas Mahajan. Both have also filed applications seeking suspension of their sentences and bail.
