New Delhi: A city court on Friday (February 7) deferred to February 12 its verdict in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who was scheduled to pass the verdict on Friday, deferred the pronouncement.
The case pertains to the alleged killings of two person in Saraswati Vihar area in Delhi during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The riots broke out following the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
Court earlier reserved its verdict
The court earlier had reserved its order after hearing the final arguments and it had later allowed the prosecution to argue on certain points on a plea moved by the state.
Court framed charges against Kumar in December 2021
The charges in the case against the former MP was framed by the trial court on December 16, 2021 after finding that there was a “prima facie” case against Kumar. The court had put him on trial after finding sufficient material to form a “prima facie opinion that he (Kumar) was not only a participant, but had also led the mob”.
What is the case of the prosecution?
According to the prosecution, a large mob, which was armed with deadly weapons, resorted to large-scale arson, looting and destruction of properties of Sikhs to avenge Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her two Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. The mob, as per the prosecution, attacked the complainant’s house and killed her husband Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984 and looted articles and set their house ablaze.
The case was initially registered by the Punjabi Bagh police station, however, the investigation of the case was later taken over by a special investigation team.
Kumar is currently lodged in Tihar Jail serving life sentence
Kumar is currently lodged in Tihar central Jail in Delhi serving life sentence in another 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
