Batla House encounter: Delhi High Court refuses to confirm death penalty for convict Ariz Khan

The Delhi High Court on Thursday refused to confirm the death penalty awarded to Ariz Khan following his conviction in the sensational 2008 Batla House encounter case, in which Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma lost his life.

The High Court's order came in view of Khan's appeal against the trial court verdict that said his offence fell under the "rarest of the rare category", warranting the maximum sentence and that he be "hanged by the neck" till death. The High Court's decision came after it reserved its order in reference to the confirmation of death sentence handed to Khan in August this year.  

Batla House Encounter

Days after the serial blasts shook the national capital killing over 30 people, the Special Cell of Delhi Police on September 19, 2008 carried out an encounter at the Batla House in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar.  Delhi Police's Special Cell officer Mohan Chand Sharma had raided the place looking for terrorists. 

In retaliation to the police’s action, the terrorists started firing. Sharma was killed in the encounter that broke out between the police and the terrorists. Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter. 

Ariz Khan was convicted for Sharma's murder and other offences on March 8, 2021 and was sentenced to death on March 15, 2021. The court called the case a "rarest of the rare" while awarding the death penalty to Khan, who fled the spot.