Court Deliberates on Sajjan Kumar's Role in 1984 Sikh Riots Case

Court Decision on 1984 Sikh Riots Case

The Rouse Avenue Court has reserved its judgment regarding former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in connection with a case related to the 1984 Sikh riots. This case pertains to FIRs filed at the Janakpuri and Vikaspuri police stations. The court has scheduled the verdict for January 22. In 2023, Kumar was acquitted of murder charges.

The Janakpuri case involves the killings of two Sikhs, Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh, on November 1, 1984. The second case relates to the burning of Gurcharan Singh, which was recorded at the Vikaspuri police station on November 2, 1984.

Final Arguments Heard by the Judge

Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh has reserved the decision after hearing the final arguments from Kumar's defense attorney and the additional public prosecutor. Manish Rawat represented the prosecution, while lawyers Anil Kumar Sharma, Apoorv Sharma, and S.A. Hashmi defended Sajjan Kumar. Surpreet Kaur appeared on behalf of the riot victims. During his statement on July 7, Kumar denied the allegations against him regarding the anti-Sikh riots, asserting that he was not present at the riot sites and claimed he was falsely implicated.

Previous Acquittal and Charges

On August 23, 2023, the court acquitted Sajjan Kumar of murder charges. The court had previously framed charges against him under various sections of the IPC, including 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting with a deadly weapon), 149 (offense committed by a member of an unlawful assembly), 153 (promoting enmity between different groups), 295 (injuring or defiling a place of worship), 307 (attempt to murder), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 395 (punishment for dacoity), and 426 (punishment for mischief).