NEW DELHI: A Delhi court is set to deliver its verdict on January 8, 2024, in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case involving former Indian National Congress MP Sajjan Kumar. The Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who had planned to pass the order on Monday, postponed the pronouncement. Kumar, who is currently serving time in Tihar Jail, appeared via video conference.
The case relates to the alleged killing of two individuals during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the Saraswati Vihar area. The court had reserved its judgment after hearing the final arguments on the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son, Tarundeep Singh, on November 1, 1984.
According to the prosecution, Kumar allegedly led the mob responsible for the killings. It is claimed that, under his instigation, two people were burned alive, their house was destroyed and looted, and family members and relatives were severely injured. During the investigation, key witnesses were found, questioned, and their statements recorded.
Kumar faces trial on several serious charges, including offences under Sections 147, 148, 149, 153A, 295, 302, 307, 395, 436, and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The investigation was carried out by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to investigate cases related to the 1984 riots following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The SIT looked into two incidents that occurred on November 1 and 2, 1984, in areas such as Gulab Bagh, Nawada, and Uttam Nagar in Delhi, resulting in separate FIRs being registered at the Janakpuri and Vikas Puri police stations. These incidents were initially investigated by the Delhi Police’s Riots Cell.
