What happened (sentencing stage at Karkardooma Courts)

Delhi Police made its case for capital punishment during the sentencing proceedings before the Karkardooma Courts in connection with the 2020 riots killing of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma. Delhi Police argued that the circumstances of the murder meet the “rarest of rare” threshold — a capital punishment standard in Indian criminal law used when the case is exceptionally grave and rare enough to justify death rather than life imprisonment.

Delhi Police sought the death penalty for the following five people who had already been convicted by the trial court: Tahir Hussain (former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor)Four other accused

In support of the death-penalty request, Delhi Police argued multiple points: The attack on Ankit Sharma was “exceptionally brutal”.Prosecutors pointed to multiple injuries on Ankit Sharma’s body.Prosecutors contended that sharp-edged weapons were involved.Prosecutors argued that the assault continued even after Ankit Sharma had died.

Background and earlier position (conviction and reservation of sentencing)

The trial court had already convicted the five accused on July 14 and had reserved its sentencing order after hearing submissions from both sides. The court was scheduled to pronounce the sentencing decision on July 31.

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