1984 anti-Sikh riots: Delhi court to pronounce verdict in Sajjan Kumar case on February 7

A Delhi court on Friday reserved its verdict in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in connection with the murder of two persons in the Saraswati Vihar area of the national capital.

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After hearing additional submissions made by Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat, Special judge Kaveri Baweja said she would pronounce the verdict on February 7.

On January 21, the Special Judge had deferred the judgment after the prosecution sought time to further argue on certain points raised by the defence counsel on January 8.

Kumar is currently serving a life imprisonment in another anti-Sikh riots case in Tihar Jail.

Special Judge Baweja had reserved the verdict after hearing the final arguments in the case related to the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984. The Punjabi Bagh police station registered the case, and the probe was subsequently taken over by a special investigation team.

On December 16, 2021, the court framed charges against Kumar, finding a “prima facie” case against him.

According to the prosecution, a huge mob, armed with deadly weapons, resorted to large-scale looting, arson, and destruction of properties of Sikhs to avenge the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The mob attacked the house of the complainant, Jaswant’s wife, killing her husband and son, apart from looting articles and setting their house ablaze, alleged the prosecution.

Putting Kumar on trial, the court order found sufficient material to form a “prima facie opinion that he was not only a participant but had also led the mob”.

Around 3,000 people, mostly Sikhs, were killed in the anti-Sikh riots that broke out following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her two Sikh bodyguards.

Kumar (79) has been in jail since December 31, 2018, when he surrendered after being convicted and awarded life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court in another case relating to 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the Raj Nagar part-I area in Palam Colony in South West Delhi in which five Sikhs were killed on November 1-2, 1984, and a gurdwara was burnt down in Raj Nagar part II. The Supreme Court has refused to grant him bail. (With agency inputs)