The Supreme Court has granted custody parole to Tahir Hussain, the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor, who is accused in the 2020 Delhi riots. The court has allowed Hussain to leave jail for 12 hours daily, from January 29 to February 3, to campaign for the Delhi Assembly elections.
Conditions Imposed
Hussain, who is fighting for the Mustafabad seat, must bear the costs of two police personnel, the jail van, and the escort vehicle. The court also required him to make an advance deposit of ₹2 lakh per day.
While campaigning, Hussain can visit his party office and hold meetings with voters within his constituency, but he is prohibited from visiting his home in Karawal Nagar. He is also barred from speaking about the cases pending against him.
Legal Background and Court Proceedings
Hussain’s counsel, Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal, argued that the remaining time for campaigning was limited, and he should be allowed to connect with the electorate while under police custody. Hussain assured that he would not visit his alleged crime scene at his house and would instead stay in a hotel.
However, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju opposed the petition, citing the seriousness of Hussain’s role in the riots. The court asked the government to provide details of the expenses and security arrangements required.
Previously, Hussain had failed to secure interim bail on January 22 after a split verdict by a two-judge bench. The Delhi High Court had granted him custody parole earlier on January 14 for filing his nomination papers from the Mustafabad constituency under an All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) ticket.
Delhi Riots Connection
The Delhi riots erupted on February 24, 2020, causing widespread violence in northeast Delhi, resulting in the deaths of 53 people and injuries to many others. Hussain is accused in the murder of Intelligence Bureau staffer Ankit Sharma.
