Anti-Sikh riots: Delhi HC decision not a setback for Sajjan Kumar, says lawyer

Minutes after the Delhi High Court ruled that Congress leader Sajjan Kumar will continue to face trial in connection with a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, his lawyer on Tuesday said that the court's decision is not a setback for his client.

"This is not a setback for us. All the four petitions are dismissed .Next trial date is on the 30th. It is a matter of trial. There is no evidence in the case. Now, the trial court will decide whether there is evidence or not," said Advocate Anil Kumar Sharma.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant him relief in connection with a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Kumar had moved the High Court challenging a trial court order to frame charges against him in the case.

Sajjan Kumar was facing trial along with Balwan Khokkar, Mahender Yadav, Girdhari Lal, Kishan Khokkar and Captain Bhagmal for allegedly conspiring and inciting a mob against the Sikh community.

The case relates to anti-Sikh riots that had broken out after the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. Gandhi was shot dead by two of her bodyguards at her residence in New Delhi.

The case, in which these five persons were held guilty, deals with the death of five Sikhs - Kehar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raghuvender Singh, Narender Pal Singh and Kuldeep Singh - who were members of the same family and were killed by the mob in Delhi Cantonment"s Raj Nagar area.