New Delhi, July 16, 2026: The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) has secured the acquittal of Gulfam and Shoaib in the case relating to the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 North-East Delhi riots.
The judgment was delivered by Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh of the Karkardooma Courts, Delhi, on 13 July 2026 in Sessions Case No. 120/20, State v. Md. Tahir Hussain & Others, arising out of FIR No. 65/2020 registered at Police Station Dayalpur.
From the outset of the proceedings, APCR ensured continuous legal representation for Gulfam and Shoaib through its panel of advocates. Their acquittal follows years of legal proceedings during which APCR remained committed to protecting the constitutional guarantees of a fair trial, due process, and effective legal representation. Prior to this judgment, APCR had also successfully secured bail for both accused in several other cases arising out of the 2020 Delhi riots.
The defence team representing APCR comprised Advocate Rajiv Mohan, along with Ms. Tara Narula, Ms. Sonal Sarda, and Ms. Shivangi Sharma, whose sustained legal efforts resulted in the acquittal of Gulfam and Shoaib.
Commenting on the judgment, APCR reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring access to justice and competent legal representation for all individuals facing criminal prosecution. The organisation emphasized that the right to a fair trial and due process is a fundamental constitutional guarantee that must be upheld without exception.
APCR remains dedicated to providing legal assistance to those in need and to strengthening the principles of justice, equality, and the rule of law.If this is intended for publication, you may also want to add a brief note that the acquittal is based on the trial court’s judgment and that any appeal by the prosecution, if filed, would be subject to further judicial proceedings. This makes the release more complete and legally precise.
