1984 riots: CBI, two acquitted men get court notice

The Delhi High Court Monday issued notice to the CBI and two accused who were acquitted of murder charges in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

A bench of Justice G.S. Sistani and Justice G.P. Mittal sought the response of the probe agency by Aug 27 on the appeal filed by Jagdish Kaur and Nirpreet Kaur, both relatives of riot victims.

The two women challenged the trial court's order that acquitted former Delhi legislator Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokkar of the charges of murder, while sentencing them to three years in jail for rioting.

On another plea of the victims' families, the bench issued notice to the CBI seeking enhancement of the life sentence to death penalty awarded to other convicts Balwan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal, for murder.

The court also called for the trial court record in the case on the next date of hearing.

On April 30, the trial court acquitted Sajjan Kumar, a Congress leader and former Lok Sabha member from Outer Delhi, but convicted the five others.

Balwan Khokkar, Lal and Bhagmal were convicted for murder and rioting and awarded life term, Yadav and Kishan Khokkar were convicted only for rioting and awarded three years' jail term.

Senior advocate H.S. Phoolka, appearing for the victims' families, sought compensation and said the April 30 verdict of the trial court was erroneous.

"The trial court has not given any substantial, compelling, good and sufficient reason and ground to acquit the respondents under the charges of murder framed against them," said the plea filed by the victims's kin.

It was also claimed by the families that despite they being eyewitness to the role of the respondents during the riots, the trial court acted in a casual manner while pronouncing its verdict.

"The trial court gives finding as to the credibility of these eyewitnesses that they are natural and truthful, but in a cursory manner has acquitted the respondents for such a heinous crime," said the plea.

The case relates to the anti-Sikh riots that broke out after the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi on Oct 31, 1984. Gandhi was shot dead by two of her bodyguards at her residence here.