1984 Anti Sikh Riots: Delhi Court Awards Life Sentence To Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar In Murder Case

A Delhi Court on Tuesday awarded life sentence to former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in connection with murder of a man and his son residing in West Delhi area during the 1984 Anti Sikh riots.Special judge Kaveri Baweja of Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order. Kumar was convicted in the case on February 12. Charges in the murder case were framed against Kumar in 2021. This is the second conviction of Kumar in relation to the riots.The Court had framed charges against Kumar in the case for the offences under sec. 147, 148, 149, 302, 308, 323, 395, 397, 427, 436 and 440 read with sec. 149 of the Indian Penal Code.The complainant had stated that on November 1, 1984 a mob had attacked on their house resulting in the killing of her husband and son, inflicting injuries on her and other persons, including damage and destruction of their property.The complainant further stated that she saw a photo of Kumar in a magazine later and identified him be of the person instigating the mob.Thereafter Ministry of Home Affairs vide its order dated 12.02.2015 constituted a SIT for investigating or reinvestigating the cases concerning the1984 riots. The complainant's statement was recorded wherein she again narrated the incident.Further investigation in the matter revealed that the victims, sister-in-law of the complainant along with both the deceased were present at the house when a violent mob consisting of thousands of persons and armed with iron rods and lathis etc. had attacked their house, broken its doors and windows, looted household articles and committed mischief by fire or otherwise by destroying their household articles and by setting their house on fire. It was also alleged that Kumar, by leading and being a member of an unlawful assembly consisting of thousands of persons and armed with deadly weapons had committed the offences of rioting, dacoity, murder, attempt to murder, causing grievous hurt and mischief by fire or otherwise by destruction of house and other household property of the victims.While framing charges against Kumar, the Court was of the view that there was sufficient material on record to form a prima facie opinion that he was not only a participant of mob that attacked the house of the deceased, but was also leading it.The Court had however dropped the charges under sec. 201 (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) and 307 (Attempt to murder) of the IPC.

1984 Anti Sikh Riots: Delhi Court Awards Life Sentence To Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar In Murder Case

Nupur Thapliyal

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