Sikh riots 1984: Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment on Tuesday (February 25, 2025) in connection with the murder of two persons during the 1984 anti -Sikh riots. Sajjan Kumar is already serving a life sentence in the Delhi Cantt case.
Let’s look at the incidents related to the case in order.
- 1991: FIR registered in the case.
- July 8, 1994: The Delhi court did not find enough evidence to start prosecution. The charge sheet was not filed against Sajjan Kumar in the case.
- February 12, 2015: The government formed a special investigation team (SIT).
- November 21, 2016: The SIT told the court that further investigation in the case is needed.
- April 6, 2021: Kumar arrested.
- May 5, 2021: Police filed a charge sheet.
- July 26, 2021: The court takes cognizance of the charge sheet.
- October 1, 2021: The court starts a debate on the allegations.
- December 16, 2021: The court framed charges of murder, riot and other crimes.
- January 31, 2024: The court begins to listen to the final arguments.
- November 8, 2024: The court reserves the verdict.
- February 12, 2025: The court convicts Kumar.
- February 25, 2025: Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment.
2733 people killed in riots
According to the report of the Nanavati Commission formed to investigate the violence and subsequent incidents, 587 FIRs were registered in Delhi regarding riots. 2,733 people were killed in these riots. Overall, about 240 elements were closed by the police citing no clue and the accused were acquitted in 250 cases.
Sajjan Kumar was serving life imprisonment in another case
Only 28 cases were punished, in which about 400 people were convicted. About 50 people, including Sajjan Kumar, were convicted for murder. Sajjan Kumar, who was an influential Congress leader and MP at that time, was also accused in the murder of five people in Delhi’s Palam Colony on November 1 and 2 in 1984. In this case, the Delhi High Court sentenced him to life imprisonment and his appeal challenging the sentence is pending in the Supreme Court.
Another appeal is pending in the Delhi High Court against the acquittal of Kumar on behalf of the lower court, while a Delhi court is currently hearing in the fourth case.
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