Batla House encounter case: Court finds accused Ariz Khan guilty; sentence to be pronounced on March 15

A Sessions Court in Delhi on Monday convicted accused Ariz Khan alias Junaid in the matter relating to the Batla House encounter of 2008 in which Delhi Police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma and two alleged terrorists were killed.

The sentence will be pronounced on March 15.

"The evidence adduced on record by the prosecution leaves no matter of doubt that the prosecution has proved the case beyond all reasonable doubt and that the accused is liable to be convicted. It has been proved that the accused Ariz Khan managed to escape during shootout and failed to appear before court despite proclamation. Accordingly accused is held guilty and convicted under sec. 186, 333, 353, 302, 307, 174A , 34 of IPC and 27 of Arms Act," Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Yadav said.

At the outset, the Court vide a separate order also directed the Investigating Officer to conduct an enquiry to ascertain financial condition of Ariz Khan and his family to grant compensation to the victims, Live Law reported.

During the encounter on 19th September 2008, two Indian Mujahideen terrorists namely Atif Ameen and Mohd Sajid were killed while Delhi Police inspector Mohan Chand Sharma received fatal bullet injuries.

Ariz Khan was declared as a proclaimed offender after he managed to escape from the site.

He was arrested by the Delhi Police in 2018 from Uttarakhand's Banbasa, bordering Nepal. According to the police, Khan had acquired a Nepali citizenship card and passport under a fake identity.

A trial court had in 2013 convicted the other accused Shahzad Ahmad, an Indian Mujahideen operative, to life imprisonment for murdering constables Balwant Singh and Rajbir Singh and causing death of inspector MC Sharma by firing on them.

The court found Shahzad guilty of murder, attempt to murder, obstructing and assaulting public servants and grievously injuring the police officers to deter them from performing their duty.