NEW DELHI : Following the violence that took place in Chand Bagh area of northeast Delhi in February this year, the Delhi Police on Tuesday filed a chargesheet and named suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain as the mastermind who organised the violence in the region for which he spent around Rs 1.10 crore. Police in its chargesheet also named Shah Alam (brother of Hussain)along with 15 others as accused in the case.
The chargsheet was filed at Karkardooma court by the Crime Branch of Delhi police. The police filed two chargesheets in connection with riots– one is related to Hussain and the other is related to murder and riots case in Jaffrabad, officials said.
According to the 1030 pages chargesheet, during the course of the investigation, the police found several suspicious transactions into the account of two companies that Tahir owns.
The chargesheet stated that Hussain also disclosed that from the account of companies owned by him, he allegedly transferred around Rs 1.10 crore to alleged fake companies and he got that amount in the second week of January, 2020, and he got that amount in cash through a chain of transactions and thereafter he started his preparations and distributed cash to anti-CAA protestors.
“Police also obtained the Bank account details of two companies of Tahir – Show Effect Advertising Pvt Ltd and Essence Cellcom Pvt Ltd – from HDFC Bank and were analysed to verify the disclosure statement of Tahir regarding organising and distributing cash for Anti-CAA protests and the riots,” states the chargsheet.
“The bank account details showed six suspicious transactions from Essence Cellcom Pvt Ltd. amounting to Rs 92 lakhs to two accounts. His (Hussain’s) another company Show Effect Advertising Pvt Ltd showed a transfer of Rs 20lakh on January 8….All these chain of transactions are being investigated,” stated the chargsheet.
“During interrogation, Hussain admitted his involvement in the riots and also admitted that he was present at the terrace of his house at the time of incident.
It said that he disclosed that he was in touch with other anti- CAA protesters of Delhi and admitted to have met Khalid Saifi (from United Against Hate) and Umar Khalid (from JNU) at Shaheen Bagh anti CAA protest (their CDR analysis prove their locations together) on January 8,where Khalid told him to be prepared for something big/riots at the time of visit of US president and also said that he and other PFI members will help him financially.
He further disclosed that Khalid Saifi gave him some money initially for the preparations, the chargesheet said.
Police said in the chargesheet, a day prior to riots in Delhi, Hussain got his pistol released from Khajuri Khas police station on February 22 but during interrogation, he couldn’t give any satisfactory reply on why he got his pistol released.
“He was found connected to Khalid Saifi and Umar Khalid who are part of a larger group of persons who were organizing riots and protests in Delhi,” the chargesheet said
“Several CCTV cameras were found installed in his house/office and four DVRs were also recovered from his house, but as per expert opinion from FSL, no recording from February 23 to February 28, 2020 could be found or retrieved from any DVR,” it further said.
“It means there was no data recorded of that time either because CCTVs were switched off or they were no in working condition. There is no recording of persons visiting him in his office or house prior to the commencement of riots/during the riots, as if he did not wish the events to be recorded. Absence of any recording in the DVRs points that he deliberately did it to his activities prior to and during the riots., ” the chargesheet said.
After photos and videos obtained from two separate DVDs were analysed, it showed the destructions done by the rioters at the scene of crime and it also shows that the house/office of main accused Hussain was left untouched by the rioters although scores of rioters were present in his house as per his statements of party workers, which points it was accused Hussain who was leading and instigating the mob, chargesheet claimed.
“Recovery of crates containing glass bottles having some liquid filled in them and their necks stuffed with pieces of cloth, which were used/ to be used as Molotov cocktails, large number of bricks and stone pieces and three catapults from the house of accused Tahir Hussain further point towards the conspiracy and the extent of preparation for causing riots in the area, ” It said.
It added that as per his disclosure statement during police remand, one pistol with extra magazine and 24 live cartridges , one mobile phone were recovered from him on March 7. On March 11, 40 live cartridges and 22 empty cartridges were also recovered. However, he didn’t give any satisfactory answer related to the empty cartridges, it stated.
“He purchased 100 cartridges on his license but only 64 live cartridges and 22 empty cartridges were recovered. During interrogation, He was unable to give satisfactory reply for the remaining 14 live cartridges and use of 22 empty shells,” mentions the chargesheet.
On the instance of Tahir, two brothers Liyakat Ali and Riyasat Ali were arrested and during interrogation they disclosed their involvement in the riots. They disclosed that they actively participated in the riots in and around the house of Tahir,” police said.
The chargesheet further mentioned that Riyasat actively participated in looting and burning of the parking of one Pradeep, which is adjacent to the house of Hussain and the brothers divided the cash among themselves.
“During the course of investigation, Hussain’s step brother Shah Alam was arrested along with other accused – Mohd Shadab , Mohd Abid, Rashid Saifi. They all disclosed they actively participated in the riots on the directions of Hussain, ” police said.
The chargesheet said, “Pradeep’s parking was inspected by the FSL and crime team. Out of 44 vehicles , 14 were burnt and 18 were damaged. The photos and videos were taken . It showed that while Pradeep’s parking was being destroyed by the rioters and while scores of rioters were present at Hussain’s place, they left his place untouched.”
A case for rioting was registered at Khajuri Khas police station in which 15 persons, including Tahir Hussain were arrested in connection with riots that occurred at about 2.15 pm on February 24, outside Hussain’s house.
In a second chargesheet filed in connection with the Jafrabad rioting case which happened near Jafrabad Metro station, twelve persons including Pinjratod activists Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita were arrested. Police said they were actively involved in hatching the conspiracy to cause riots near Jafrabad metro station, police said.
They were also part of a larger conspiracy and were found to be connected to the ‘India Against Hate’ group and Umar Khalid, police said.
“One Aman had died due to the gunshot injury in the incident and a total of 35 empty cartridges of different bore were recovered from the spot,” said police.
