Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar Convicted in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Case. On Wednesday, an ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar was convicted in relation to the murder of two men during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots at Saraswati Vihar by a Delhi court. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who had put off the verdict on February 7, has set February 18 for the hearing on punishment.
At 79, Kumar is already serving life imprisonment for another anti-Sikh riot case. The judgment was been reserved by the court on January 31 after additional arguments by public prosecutor Manish Rawat. Earlier, on January 8, the prosecution sought time to react to the defence’s argument. Kumar is currently imprisoned at Tihar Jail.
The case concerns the murder of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984. The case started at the Punjabi Bagh police station, but was later transferred to a special investigation team. After finding a “prima facie” case against the accused, the court framed charges against Kumar on 16.12.2021.
The prosecution states that just after the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a violent mob armed with deadly weapons looted, committed arson, and attacked Sikh properties, resulting into complainant’s husband and son being killed, robbed of valuables, and burning his house. The evidence considered sufficient by the court suggested Kumar’s participation but also leading the mob in such violence himself.
The assassination of Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984, led to the riots, which resulted in the killing of about 3,000 people, mostly Sikhs.
Kumar is behind the bars since December 31, 2018, when he was convicted in another 1984 riots case and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court; the case related to the killing of five Sikhs and burning of a Gurdwara at Raj Nagar Part-I, Palam Colony on November 1-2, 1984; and Kumar’s bail application was rejected by the Supreme Court.
