1984 anti-Sikh riots: Delhi court awards life term to ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar
1984 anti-Sikh riots: Delhi court awards life term to ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar
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Kumar was put on trial after the court found sufficient material to show that he led a mob during the riots that broke out after the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi
A DELHI court on Tuesday (25) awarded life-term imprisonment to former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in a murder case connected to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Special judge Kaveri Baweja pronounced the judgment for the murders of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984.
The judge said the offences committed by Kumar were undoubtedly brutal and reprehensible but underscored certain mitigating factors, including his age of 80 years and illnesses that “weigh in favour of imposing a lesser sentence, instead of the death penalty”.
The court on February 12 convicted Kumar for the offence. It sought a report from Tihar Central Jail on his psychiatric and psychological evaluation because of a Supreme Court order asking for such a report in cases attracting capital punishment.
“The ‘satisfactory’ conduct of the convict as per the report of the jail authorities, the ailments from which he is reportedly suffering, the fact that the convict has roots in the society and the possibility of his reformation and rehabilitation are material considerations which, in my opinion, tilt the scales in favour of sentence for life imprisonment instead of death penalty,” the order said.
Nothing “adverse was reported about Kumar’s behaviour” and his conduct was “satisfactory” according to a jail report, the court added.
The offence of murder attracts a maximum punishment of the death penalty, while the minimum sentence is life imprisonment.
The complainant, Jaswant’s wife, and the prosecution, had sought maximum punishment for Kumar.
He is currently lodged in Tihar jail.
Though Punjabi Bagh police station registered the case initially, a special investigation team later took over the investigation.
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, who is Jaswant’s wife, killing the men aside from looting articles and setting their house ablaze, the prosecution claimed.
Kumar was put on trial after the court found sufficient material to form a “prima facie opinion that he was not only a participant, but had also led the mob”.
According to a report of Nanavati Commission, constituted to probe the violence and its aftermath, there were 587 FIRs filed in Delhi in relation to the riots that saw the killings of 2,733 people. Of the total, about 240 FIRs were closed by police as “untraced” and 250 cases resulted in acquittal.
Of the 587 FIRs, only 28 cases resulted in punishments with about 400 people being convicted. About 50, including Kumar, were convicted for murder.
Kumar, an influential Congress leader and an MP at the time, was accused in a case over the killings of five persons in Delhi’s Palam Colony on November 1 and 2 in 1984.
He was awarded life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court in the case and his appeal challenging the punishment is pending before the Supreme Court.
Two appeals are pending before the Delhi high court and the Supreme Court against Kumar’s acquittal and life imprisonment, respectively. (PTI) Report this page