1984 riots case: Scribes manhandled, not allowed to hear verdict

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was today acquitted in the case, whose verdict was pronounced behind closed doors

The judgement in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was today acquitted by a court here was pronounced behind closed doors and mediapersons who tried to enter the court room were manhandled by Delhi Police.

The media was kept at bay by police personnel, while the verdict was being pronounced behind closed doors.

Initially, the mediapersons were asked to cooperate with the police and move out of the court in order to do a security sweep of the room. But later, they were not allowed to enter even the hall outside the courtroom after being made to wait for over one-and-a-half hour.

At 3 PM, as the judgement was about to be pronounced, the mediapersons, including female scribes, who tried to enter the courtroom were manhandled by the police officials.

Earlier in the morning, the scene at Karkardooma court complex was one of chaos as general litigants were caught by surprise by the extensive security present outside the court complex.

There was a long queue of litigants, lawyers and court staff waiting to get inside the court building. The line moved slowly as police officials frisked each and every individual carefully.

Meanwhile, Karnail Singh, who threw a shoe at the judge was detained by the police and was taken to police post within the court premises.

The riot victims sat outside the police post for hours demanding the release of Singh, who was later arrested by the police.