Police to video record questioning of suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police has decided to video record the questioning of Tahir Hussain. His questioning will focus primarily on events of February 23 (when first round of clashes broke out) till February 25 (when IB staffer Ankit Sharma was killed and northeast Delhi witnessed maximum violence).

In near to two hours of questioning, Tahir maintained he is a victim whose house has been attacked. He claimed that he went on the terrace after his workers told him that his house could be set afire.

The crime branch will confront him with video evidence of February 24 and also the forensic report which said petrol bombs and acid bottles were thrown from his house.

Tahir’s claim that he was not in the house on February 25 will be examined by officers who have recorded the statements of Ankit’s family members and others.

Tahir will also be quizzed about his support to anti-CAA protest which turned violent on February 24 and saw cops being attacked including murder of a head constable. This protest took place very close to his residence.

The crime branch will also ask him who were present in the house on February 25. Did he leave the house on February 24 as he claimed and returned on February 25 as many are suspecting. Even if he was not in the house on February 25, he in touch with those who assaulted Ankit.

Tahir has denied all this. He said after making an SOS call on February 24.he left his house in presence of police and never contacted anyone. He has no idea who attacked Ankit Sharma and did not know that Ankit was working for IB, Tahir told his interrogators.

While crime branch has found forensic evidence of Ankit (blood samples) in drain, officials are tight-lipped about whether any forensic evidence has been found inside the house. WhatsApp group to which he was associated with it are being analysed to see whether he called for mobilisation.

Cases of riots, which include murder sections, will be investigated by the special investigation team (SIT) of crime branch and the local police will probe rest of the cases, sources said.

The sources further claimed that sulphuric acid known as vitriol might have been used by rioters. Police has gone into a tizzy as the acid, which was recovered from Tahir’s factory, is sold only through licensed dealers and probing how the rioters procured it.