iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
In a significant legal development, former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar has been convicted by the Rouse Avenue Court in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
This case involves the brutal killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in the Saraswati Vihar area of Delhi on November 1, 1984. Sajjan Kumar is already serving a life sentence in connection with another anti-Sikh riots case in Delhi Cantonment.
The verdict was delivered by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who convicted Kumar after a detailed trial. The accused was physically present in the courtroom during the proceedings.
On January 31, the court had reserved its judgment after hearing additional submissions from the Public Prosecutor, Manish Rawat.
This particular case pertains to the tragic killings of father and son Jaswant Singh and Tarundeep Singh during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The victims were murdered in a violent mob attack in the Saraswati Vihar area.
Sajjan Kumar’s name had not initially been included in the investigation, but after a delay of 16 years, a key witness identified him as one of the perpetrators.
Advocate Anil Sharma, representing Kumar, argued that the delay in naming the accused raised questions about the case’s credibility. He also mentioned that Kumar’s involvement had not been established from the start and noted that a related case in which Kumar was convicted by the Delhi High Court is still under appeal at the Supreme Court.
Sharma also contended that international law did not apply in this case and referenced a prior judgment, where it was asserted that the law of the land should prevail even in extraordinary circumstances.
Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat countered these arguments, asserting that the victim’s family had not initially identified Sajjan Kumar but had done so once they were made aware of his involvement. He stated that the victim, a family member who had survived the riots, later recognized Kumar’s photograph in a magazine and named him in her statement.
Senior Advocate H.S. Phoolka, who appeared for the victims’ families, strongly criticized the police investigation, claiming that it had been manipulated to protect the accused.
Phoolka argued that the police had been negligent, and the investigation was deliberately delayed to shield those responsible for the violence.
Phoolka also referred to previous court judgments, including a 1984 Delhi High Court decision, in which the riots were recognized as a “crime against humanity”. He emphasized that the 1984 killings were not isolated incidents but part of a larger, orchestrated massacre targeting the Sikh community. Phoolka pointed to official reports stating that over 2,700 Sikhs were killed in Delhi alone during the 1984 violence.
The advocate highlighted the importance of treating such cases with urgency, given the extraordinary nature of the riots. He also referred to international legal precedents on genocide and crimes against humanity, citing the Geneva Convention to underscore the gravity of the charges against Kumar.
The case was investigated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed following the recommendations of the Justice G.P. Mathur Committee, which had called for the reopening of 114 riot-related cases. Kumar was formally charged in December 2021 with a range of offenses, including murder, arson, and rioting.
The SIT alleged that Kumar had led the mob responsible for the killings and destruction of property in Saraswati Vihar, including the burning alive of the victims.
The court also heard statements from witnesses, including the wife and mother of the victims, who described in detail the horrific events of that day. These testimonies were pivotal in the prosecution’s case, as they provided direct evidence of the violence, looting, and arson carried out by the mob under Kumar’s leadership.
On November 1, 2023, Sajjan Kumar gave his statement before the court, denying all charges against him. Initially, an FIR had been filed in connection with the case at the Punjabi Bagh police station, but it was later transferred to the SIT, which reopened the investigation. The charge sheet against Kumar was prepared in 1992 but had not been filed until the SIT’s involvement.
Kumar has been accused of instigating the mob, which led to the death of Jaswant Singh and his son, along with the destruction of their home and other property. In addition to the murders, the mob inflicted severe injuries on other family members, some of whom later died from their injuries.
The conviction of Sajjan Kumar is a significant step in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. While the case is part of ongoing legal proceedings, including appeals, it highlights the continued struggle for accountability for the violence that claimed the lives of thousands of Sikhs.
The case has also brought attention to the delayed and flawed investigations that have plagued many of the riot cases. Advocates for the victims have long argued that the riots were not an isolated outbreak of violence but a targeted, systemic attack on the Sikh community.
As this case moves forward, it remains to be seen whether further legal actions will be taken against others involved in the violence, and whether justice will ultimately be served for all the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
(Photo courtesy: x.com/Gagan4344)
