1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Court awards lifer to Ex-Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in murder case
1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment on Tuesday in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in Delhi. Special Judge Kaveri Baveja of Rouse Avenue Court pronounced the verdict after 2 pm. The court had reserved the decision on the sentence on February 21.
Sentence announced in Sikh riot case, life imprisonment to former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar
Just before the verdict, Sajjan Kumar had appealed for leniency in the sentence. He said in his arguments that there is no basis for giving me the death penalty in this case.
Delhi court awards Lifer to Ex-Congress leader Sajjan Kumar
Sajjan Kumar said, "I am 80 years old. I am suffering from many diseases with increasing age. I have been in jail since 2018. I have not received any furlough/parole since then."
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The victim's side had demanded death penalty for Sajjan Kumar. Sajjan Kumar was convicted on February 12. The case is related to the murder of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in Saraswati Vihar during the riots.
During this time, Sajjan was a Congress MP from Outer Delhi Lok Sabha seat. At present, he is lodged in Tihar Jail in another case related to the riots and is serving life imprisonment.
Just before the verdict, Sajjan Kumar appealed for leniency in the sentence
He said, "I have not been involved in any criminal case after the 1984 riots. My behavior in jail/during the trial was always good/no complaint was received against me. Therefore, the possibility of my reform cannot be ruled out.''
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Sajjan Kumar said that I have been an MP thrice. I have been a part of many projects for social welfare. I still consider myself innocent. The court should fix the minimum punishment for him in this case keeping in mind the human aspect.
Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court has sentenced Congress leader Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment in the 1984 riots case.
Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court has sentenced Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. He was convicted in the case related to the murder of father-son in Saraswati Vihar area on November 1, 1984. Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar was convicted on February 12 under sections related to rioting, unlawful assembly and murder etc.
3 cases... acquitted in 1, convicted in 2
1.Gurudwara was burnt after the murder of 5 Sikhs in Palam Colony of Delhi Cantt. Sajjan Kumar was found guilty in this case. Delhi High Court sentenced him to life imprisonment on 17 December 2018.
2.In September 2023, Rouse Avenue Court acquitted him in the murder case of 3 Sikhs in Sultanpuri, Delhi. Cham Kaur, an important witness of CBI in the riots, had alleged that Sajjan was instigating the mob.
3.On November 1, 1984, Sardar Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh were killed in Saraswati Vihar. The rioters attacked with iron rods and sticks. After this, both the Sikhs were burnt alive. Convicted on 12 February 2025. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on 25 February.
1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: What happened and when...
> PM Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984.
> The next day, i.e. on 1 November, anti-Sikh riots broke out in many parts of the country including Delhi.
According to PTI, about 2700 people were killed in Delhi alone. The death toll across the country was around 3500.
> In May 2000, GT Nanavati Commission was formed to investigate the riots.
> On 24 October 2005, CBI registered a case on the recommendation of Nanavati Commission.
> On 1 February 2010, the trial court issued summons to Congress leaders Sajjan Kumar, Balwan Khokar, Mahendra Yadav, Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal, Kishan Khokar, Maha Singh and Santosh Rani.
> On April 30, 2013, the court acquitted Sajjan Kumar.
>Against this, the CBI appealed in the High Court on July 19, 2013. On July 22, 2013, the High Court issued a notice to Sajjan Kumar.
> On December 17, 2018, the High Court convicted Sajjan Kumar in the murder case of five Sikhs and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
> 1 years after the riots, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh apologized in Parliament. He said - whatever happened makes him bow his head in shame.
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