February 25th 2025.
In a significant judgement, a Delhi court has handed former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar a life sentence in connection with a murder case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The special judge, Kaveri Baweja, made the announcement on Tuesday regarding the murders of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984. We are eagerly awaiting the detailed verdict.
Earlier, on February 12, the court had found Kumar guilty of the offence and had requested a report from Tihar Central Jail on his mental and psychological state, as per a Supreme Court order in cases that carry the death penalty. The maximum punishment for murder is death, while the minimum is life imprisonment. The prosecution and the complainant, Jaswant's wife, had both sought the maximum punishment for Kumar, who is currently incarcerated in Tihar jail.
Initially, the case was registered at the Punjabi Bagh police station, but it was later taken over by a special investigation team. On December 16, 2021, the court had framed charges against Kumar after finding a "prima facie" case against him. According to the prosecution, a large mob, armed with deadly weapons, had carried out widespread looting, arson, and destruction of properties belonging to Sikhs in retaliation for the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The mob had also attacked the complainant's house, resulting in the deaths of her husband and son, as well as the looting of their belongings and the destruction of their home.
Kumar was put on trial after the court found enough evidence to suggest that he not only participated in the violent mob but also led it. The Nanavati Commission, which was set up to investigate the riots and their aftermath, reported that 587 FIRs were filed in Delhi, with a total of 2,733 deaths. Shockingly, 240 of these cases were closed by the police as "untraced," and 250 resulted in acquittals. Out of the 587 FIRs, only 28 cases led to convictions, with approximately 400 individuals being found guilty. Additionally, 50 people, including Kumar, were convicted of murder.
Kumar, who was a prominent Congress leader and MP at the time, was implicated in a case involving the deaths of five individuals in Delhi's Palam Colony on November 1 and 2, 1984. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court, and his appeal against the verdict is currently pending in the Supreme Court. There are also two other appeals pending in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court, respectively, against Kumar's acquittal and life sentence. PTI (Press Trust of India)
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