1984 riots: Court orders trial against Sajjan Kumar

Kumar had contested trial court order, which framed charges against 5 accused including him

The Delhi High Court Tuesday dismissed the plea of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar challenging a trial court order to frame charges against him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riot case relating to the killing of six people in Sultanpuri area here.

Justice Suresh Kait dismissed the plea of Kumar, who was charged with rioting, murder and destruction of property and paved way for trial in the case.

Kumar had contested the trial court order, which in July 2010 framed charges against five accused, including him, for the murder of six people after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi Oct 31, 1984.

Justice Kait also dismissed the cross-appeal of complainant Sheela Kaur seeking to invoke charges of criminal conspiracy against Kumar and the others. She had also opposed the plea to drop charges against Kumar.

Kumar, Brahmanand Gupta, Peru, Khushal Singh and Ved Prakash Pial were charged with rioting, murder and destruction of property, amongst others.

The Congress leader and two co-accused, Gupta and Pial alias Vedu Pradhan, had moved the Delhi High Court in 2010.

A Karkardooma court had acquitted Kumar of "killing" five people in the Delhi Cantonment area during the riots.