1984 anti-Sikh riots: File reply by April 23 on action against Kamal Nath, SIT told

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New Delhi, February 6

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked a special investigation team (SIT) to file a status report by April 23 on a petition seeking action against senior Congress leader Kamal Nath for his alleged role in a case relating to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma gave additional time to the SIT after it was informed that the team set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs had not yet filed its status report in response to a petition filed by BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

Around 3,000 persons, mostly Sikhs, had died in the riots in the national capital in the aftermath of assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

The case related to a mob of rioters storming the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in the city. Congress leader Nath had previously denied the charges. Sirsa has sought a direction to the SIT to take action against Nath in the FIR lodged in 1984 at the Parliament Street police station.

Five persons were named as accused in the case and were allegedly accommodated at Nath’s house. Those accused were discharged due to lack of evidence. However, Nath was never named in the FIR.

According to the Home Ministry’s 2019 notification, the SIT has taken up the discharged cases for scrutiny or preliminary inquiry. (With PTI Inputs)