1984 riots: HC notice to Sajjan Kumar on acquittal

The Delhi High Court Monday issued notice to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar on an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging his acquittal in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

A division bench of Justice G.S. Sistani and Justice G.P. Mitttal sought a response from Sajjan Kumar by Aug 28.

The trial court May 30 acquitted Sajjan Kumar in a case related to the killing of five people in Delhi Cantonment area during violence against the Sikhs following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi Oct 31, 1984.

Filing an appeal against the acquittal, the CBI said that the trial court "erred in acquitting Sajjan Kumar as it was he who had instigated the mob during the riots".

The trial court acquitted Sajjan Kumar, a former Lok Sabha member from Outer Delhi, but convicted five others - former councillor Balwan Khokkar, former legislator Mahender Yadav, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal - for their involvement in the case.

The court had let off Sajjan Kumar saying he deserved the "benefit of doubt" as key witness Jagdish Kaur did not name him as an accused in her statement given to the Justice Ranganath Mishra panel in 1985.

Sajjan Kumar and five others were tried in the case dealing with the killing of five Sikhs - Kehar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raghuvender Singh, Narender Pal Singh and Kuldeep Singh, who were members of the same family - by a mob in Delhi Cantonment's Raj Nagar area.

The case against Sajjan Kumar and others was registered in 2005 on a recommendation by the Justice G.T. Nanavati Commission.