Batla House encounter: Delhi court to pronounce verdict on Ariz Khan’s role

35-year-old Khan was arrested by the Special Cell of the city police in February 2018 after being on the run for 10 years

A Delhi court on Monday will pronounce its judgment on the alleged role of Ariz Khan, one of the accused in the Batla House encounter of September 2008, where police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma and two alleged terrorists were killed during the showdown between the two parties.

Delhi Police’s special cell at the encounter spot in Jamia Nagar in New Delhi. (HT Archive)

Additional sessions judge Sandeep Yadav at the Saket Court complex is likely to pronounce the verdict at 2pm. 35-year-old Khan was arrested by the Special Cell of the city police in February 2018 after being on the run for 10 years. According to the police, Khan was allegedly present at the scene of crime of the encounter with four other alleged terrorists but managed to flee the spot.

On April 28, 2010, the police had filed a charge sheet against Shahzad Ahmad, Ariz Khan (then on the run), Atif Ameen and Mohd Sajid, accusing them of killing Inspector Sharma on September 19, 2008, six days after serial blasts in the capital.

The incident (encounter) took place a week after five serial blasts occurred in Delhi on September 13, 2008, in which at least 30 people were killed and over 100 injured. Inspector Sharma of Special Cell was killed during the the encounter.

A trial court in July 2013 had sentenced alleged Indian Mujahideen terrorist Shahzad Ahmad to life imprisonment in connection with the Batla House encounter case.