1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Delhi Court Records Ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar Statements

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on Wednesday recorded the statement of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, who is accused in a case related to the alleged killing of a father-son duo during the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots in the Saraswati Vihar area. The court is now scheduled to hear final arguments on November 30, 2023.

This case involves the rioting and alleged murder of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in the Raj Nagar area, initially registered at the Panjabi Bagh police station.

The court had framed charges against Sajjan Kumar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (offence committed by any member of an unlawful assembly in prosecution of the common object of that assembly), 153 (promoting enmity between different groups), 295 (Injuring or defiling a place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class), 307 (attempt of murder), 308 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 395 (Punishment for Dacoity), and 426 (Punishment for mischief), among others.

Later, the case was investigated by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), as recommended by Justice G P Mathur’s committee, and a charge sheet was filed. However, the court ordered the discharge of Sajjan Kumar for the offences under sections 302 (Punishment for Murder) and 325 (Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt) of the IPC.

Special Judge M K Nagpal recorded the statement of Sajjan Kumar and listed the matter for final arguments. Sajjan Kumar was represented by advocates Anil Kumar Sharma and S A Hashmi, who recorded the statement of the accused.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) alleged that Sajjan Kumar had led the mob and incited and abetted them, resulting in the burning alive of the father-son duo, as well as the damage, destruction, and looting of their property. Their house was set on fire, and severe injuries were inflicted on family members and relatives residing in the house. During the recording of the statement, the accused denied all the charges against him.