‘If His Name Had Been Kapil...’: Imran Masood's Remarks On Tahir Hussain Verdict Draws BJP's Ire

Published 14 July 2026 · local

‘If His Name Had Been Kapil...’: Imran Masood's Remarks On Tahir Hussain Verdict Draws BJP's Ire Published By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 13:27 IST

‘If His Name Had Been Kapil...’: Imran Masood's Remarks On Tahir Hussain Verdict Draws BJP's Ire Published By, Last Updated: July 14, 2026, 13:27 IST The remarks came after Delhi's Karkardooma Court convicted Tahir Hussain in the murder case of IB officer Ankit Sharma. Rapid Read Congress MP Imran Masood and BJP leader Gaurav Bhatia. A politicial slugfest broke out after Congress Lok Sabha MP Imran Masood claimed that former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain was being targeted because of his religion, a day after a Delhi court convicted Hussain in the murder of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 Delhi riots. “If his name had been Kapil instead of Tahir, he would have been acquitted," Masood said as quoted by news agency IANS, suggesting that Hussain was being singled out because he is a Muslim. Delhi: On the Delhi Court convicting former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain and others in the murder case of Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 North East Delhi riots, Congress MP Imran Masood says, “…If his name had been Kapil instead of… pic.twitter.com/fMRdZ12JBB— IANS (@ians_india) July 13, 2026 The remarks drew a sharp response from the BJP, with party national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia questioning whether Masood’s statement reflected the Congress leadership’s stand.

“Imran Masood also said Tahir Hussain is being targeted just because he is a Muslim. Was this statement made at the direction of Rahul Gandhi? Did Rahul Gandhi ask Imran Masood to apologise?" Bhatia said while attacking the Congress. Delhi: BJP Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia says, “Imran Masood also made a statement that Tahir Hussain is being targeted just because he is a Muslim. Was this statement made at the direction of Rahul Gandhi? Did Rahul Gandhi hold Imran Masood’s ear and tell him to… pic.twitter.com/qCOOxl8ELB— IANS (@ians_india) July 14, 2026 The remarks came after Delhi’s Karkardooma Court convicted Tahir Hussain in the murder case of IB officer Ankit Sharma, who was killed during the February 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh of the Karkardooma Courts pronounced the verdict, convicting Hussain under Sections 302 (murder), 153A, 147, 148, 149, 365 and 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). However, the court acquitted him of charges under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 129 of the IPC.

Four other accused — Nazim, Kasim, Javed and Anas — were also convicted in the case, while six others were acquitted. According to the prosecution, Sharma went missing on February 25, 2020, after leaving home to buy groceries. His body was later recovered from a drain near Chand Bagh Pulia. A post-mortem found he had suffered 51 injuries caused by sharp-edged weapons and blunt force. Following the conviction, BJP leader Kapil Mishra said the verdict vindicated what he had been alleging for years. He claimed that the murder was pre-planned and alleged that Tahir Hussain had close links with the top leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics.