Delhi court on Friday convicted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, finding him guilty of the murder of a father-son duo in the Saraswati Vihar area on November 1, 1984. This marks another conviction for the ex-parliamentarian, who is already serving a life sentence in a separate riots case linked to the killings in Delhi Cantt.
The verdict was delivered by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja at Rouse Avenue Court, following a prolonged legal battle spanning nearly four decades. Kumar was physically present in the courtroom during the pronouncement.
What the court ruled
The court had reserved its order on January 31 after hearing additional submissions from Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat. The case was initially registered at the Punjabi Bagh police station and later investigated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted on the recommendation of the Justice G.P. Mathur Committee.
The SIT alleged that Kumar led a mob that looted, set fire to homes, and ultimately killed Jaswant Singh and his son, Tarundeep Singh, as violence engulfed the city following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Senior advocate H.S. Phoolka, who has represented several riot victims, argued that the case was part of a larger, organized massacre and not an isolated incident. He referenced a previous Delhi High Court ruling that classified the riots as “a crime against humanity” and emphasized that targeted violence against minorities fits the definition of genocide.
During the hearings, Advocate Anil Sharma, representing Sajjan Kumar, contended that Kumar was not initially named in the case and that there was an unexplained delay of 16 years before a witness implicated him. He also pointed out that Kumar’s conviction in another riots case is currently under appeal before the Supreme Court.
Cases Against Sajjan Kumar
The prosecution countered these claims, stating that victims, in their statements, named Kumar only after learning his identity much later. Public Prosecutor Rawat highlighted that during the initial police investigations, crucial evidence was allegedly suppressed to protect the accused. He pointed out that a charge sheet was prepared in 1992 but was never filed in court, reinforcing claims of institutional cover-ups.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots saw over 2,700 Sikhs killed in Delhi alone, as mobs targeted the community in the wake of Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards. Survivors and rights groups have long accused law enforcement and political figures of complicity in the violence, with many cases facing years of delay before reaching the courts.
The Supreme Court had previously taken note of the delays and ordered the formation of an SIT to reopen cases that had been closed without justice. This case was among the 114 cases recommended for reinvestigation.
The Rouse Avenue Court convicted Kumar under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including murder, rioting, arson, and unlawful assembly.
What’s Next?
With this latest conviction, Sajjan Kumar faces further legal troubles, even as he continues serving a life sentence in another riots case. The sentencing is expected to be announced in the coming days.
Meanwhile, another case against Kumar—wherein he was convicted by the Delhi High Court—is pending appeal before the Supreme Court.
This conviction is being seen as another step toward justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a tragedy that continues to cast a long shadow over India’s legal and political landscape.
