Delhi court defers verdict in murder case against Sajjan

A Delhi court today deferred to February 12 its verdict in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots murder case against former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in connection with the killing of two persons in the Saraswati Vihar area of the national capital.

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Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who was scheduled to deliver the verdict, deferred the pronouncement to next Wednesday.

After hearing additional submissions made by Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat, Special judge Baweja had on January 31 reserved the verdict.

Earlier, the prosecution had sought time to further argue on certain points raised by the defence counsel on January 8. Kumar is currently serving life imprisonment in Tihar Jail in another anti-Sikh riots case.

The case relates to the killing of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984. The Punjabi Bagh police station had registered the case and the probe was subsequently taken over by a special investigation team.

1984 anti-Sikh riots

The case relates to the killing of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984

The Punjabi Bagh police in the national capital had lodged the case; the probe was later taken over by SIT

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, besides looting articles and setting their house ablaze, alleged the prosecution.

Putting Kumar on trial, the court 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 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 the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.