Delhi Police Challenges Tahir Hussain's Request for Bail to Submit Nomination from Jail
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New Delhi, Jan 13 (NationPress) The local police force on Monday rejected a request from Tahir Hussain, who is implicated in the 2020 riots, at the Delhi High Court. He is seeking interim bail to submit nomination papers for the upcoming Assembly elections.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, has nominated Tahir Hussain as a candidate for the Mustafabad constituency in advance of the elections.
In opposition to Hussain's interim bail request, the Delhi Police's attorney argued before Justice Neena Bansal Krishna that the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor could submit his nomination papers directly from Tihar Jail.
Conversely, Hussain's lawyer contended that he must physically file his nomination papers and accurately disclose his assets.
His counsel highlighted a precedent where Engineer Rashid, who is implicated in a terror funding case under investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), was granted interim bail.
Justice Krishna remarked, “You can file a nomination even while sitting in jail,” as the hearing on Hussain's plea for interim bail was postponed until Tuesday, when the court will also address his request for regular bail.
On December 24, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to the city police regarding Hussain's bail plea linked to the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.
“Issue notice. [S]tatus report/reply be filed before the next date of hearing with an advance copy to learned counsel for the petitioner. [L]ist before the concerned Roster Bench on 14.01.2025,” it ordered.
Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP criticized AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi for nominating Tahir Hussain in the Mustafabad constituency for the upcoming Assembly elections. The announcement faced strong backlash from the BJP, which accused AIMIM of being the AAP's “B-team” and warned of severe repercussions if any attempts to incite communal tensions in the capital were made.
BJP State Vice President Kapil Mishra stated that Owaisi and other “secular parties” are inciting Hindus in Delhi by supporting Hussain’s candidacy. “This is a clear attempt to disrupt the peace in Delhi. Last time, Shaheen Bagh protests were staged before the elections. If riots are incited in the name of Tahir Hussain this time, there will be consequences,” Mishra cautioned.
In response, AIMIM’s national spokesperson Waris Pathan countered, “Those making baseless allegations should introspect. People living in glass houses should not throw stones at others. Didn’t the BJP give a ticket to Pragya Singh Thakur, who is an accused in the Malegaon blast case?”
Pathan affirmed that AIMIM candidates, Tahir Hussain and Shafaur Rahman, are innocent. “They are undertrial prisoners. What will critics say when they are acquitted?” he questioned.
