New Delhi: A city court on Friday (January 31) reserved its verdict in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against former Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar and is likely to pronounce the same on February 7.
The case is related to the alleged killings of two persons in Delhi’s Saraswati Vihar area during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which broke out following former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination on October 31, 1984.
Special judge Kaveri Baweja reserved the verdict in the case after the prosecution completed its arguments.
“Put up for judgment on the next date of hearing,” the judge said.
Kumar is currently lodged in Tihar Jail serving life sentence in another 1984 anti-Sikh riots case
Kumar is currently lodged in Tihar central Jail in the national capital serving life sentence in another 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
Court earlier reserved its verdict
The court earlier had reserved its verdict after hearing the final arguments and had later allowed the prosecution to argue on certain points on a plea moved by the state.
The investigation of the case, which was initially lodged by city’s Punjabi Bagh police station, was subsequently taken over by a special investigation team.
Court framed charges against Kumar in December 2021
The trial court had framed charges against the former MP on December 16, 2021, stating that there was a “prima facie” case against Kumar. The court had put him on trial after it found 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 armed with deadly weapons resorted to large-scale arson, looting and destruction of Sikhs’ properties to avenge the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. The mob 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.
