Delhi HC quashes trial court ruling, hands Sajjan Kumar life for 1984 riots

Congressman told to surrender by Dec 31; sentence handed down for involvement in Palam violence following Indira assassination; Delhi cops rapped for failing to record victims' complaints

Slamming Sajjan Kumar for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and committing acts prejudicial to maintenance of communal harmony during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the Delhi High Court on Monday sentenced the Congress leader to life and asked him to surrender before December 31. The court sentenced Kumar for being involved in the violence that took place in Palam area of the capital city the aftermath of assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In 1984, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was gunned down by two of her Sikh bodyguards, who it is said, were