Bhagat let off in riot case

NEW DELHI, Nov 26 (PTI) — A city court today acquitted former Union Minister H.K.L. Bhagat in one of the two murder cases relating to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Additional Sessions Judge, O.P. Dwivedi of Karkardooma court in East Delhi said the prosecution failed to bring sufficient evidence before the court against Mr Bhagat and two others accused — Ramu Dholwala and Dr Budh Prakash — also acquitted by the court.

While the case for murder of Ram Singh was initiated by the police along with several other Trilokpuri (East Delhi) riot cases in 1984, Mr Bhagat and Dr Prakah were made accused following an affidavit filed by Ram Singh’s wife Satnami Bai, alleging they were also involved in the murder of her husband.

The judge said that the statement of sole witness Satnami Bai was "inconsistent".

At least 3000 Sikhs were killed in Delhi on November 1 and 2 in 1984 by violent mobs following the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh security guards. Over 400 killings took place in Trilokpuri alone.

Mr Bhagat, who is hard of hearing, was told in a loud voice by his lawyers in the court that he was acquitted in the case.

The octogenarian Congress leader said: I always expected justice from this court."

A few months after filing the affidavit, Satnami Bai had retracted her allegation and refused to identify Mr Bhagat in the court. Later, she came with another application saying she was coerced into retracting her statement naming Mr Bhagat as an accused.