Anti-Sikh Riots Case: Delhi Court Allows Sajjan Kumar’s Plea

Rouse Avenue Court

The Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday accepted a plea by former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, allowing him to submit certified copies of media reports published between November 2 and November 11, 1984.

Kumar, who is currently facing trial in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, had requested that two media houses be directed to furnish authentic copies of specific news articles.

Certified News Reports & Witness Testimony Admitted

Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh granted Kumar’s application, directing the two media organizations to file certificates of authenticity along with fresh printouts of the specified news reports.

In a separate relief, the court also permitted the inclusion of a witness statement from a previous case as defense evidence. The witness, affiliated with the Indian Red Cross Society, had earlier testified about a blood donation camp organized by Kumar in November 1984. As the witness is currently unavailable, Kumar’s legal team sought to place the earlier statement on record.

The defense, led by Advocate Anil Kumar Sharma, along with Apoorv Sharma and Anuj Sharma, argued that the news reports support Kumar’s claim that he was present in the area and involved in peace-building efforts. They emphasized that this visibility contradicts the prosecution’s narrative:

“The accused aims to demonstrate that he was not only a Member of Parliament for the area where the incident occurred, but also that he was visible to the public even after the events.”

Case Background

On July 7, Sajjan Kumar denied all charges, stating in court that he was not present at the riot sites and was falsely implicated.

Kumar faces trial in 2 cases related to the 1984 riots—one at Janakpuri, involving the murders of Sohan Singh and Avtar Singh on November 1, and another at Vikaspuri, concerning the burning of Gurcharan Singh on November 2.

Notably, the court had discharged Kumar from the murder charge (Section 302 IPC) on August 23, 2023, but directed that charges be framed under multiple IPC sections including:

147, 148, 149 (rioting and unlawful assembly)
153A, 295 (promoting enmity, injuring religious places)
307, 308, 323 (attempt to murder, causing hurt)
395, 426, 436 (dacoity, mischief, arson)

Prima Facie Case & Role in Riots

The special court observed that there was sufficient oral and documentary evidence indicating that Kumar was part of an unlawful mob that gathered near a Gurudwara in Gulab Bagh, Nawada, on November 1, 1984:

“This court is of prima facie view that the oral and documentary evidence placed on record by prosecution is sufficient…”

The court stated that the mob’s objective was to burn the Gurudwara, loot and destroy Sikh homes, and kill residents in retaliation for the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

While framing charges, the court also added alternative charges of abetment under Sections 107, 109, and 114 IPC, noting that Kumar was allegedly present during the commission of the crimes.

However, in relation to the murders on November 2 at Uttam Nagar, the court discharged Kumar from charges under Sections 302 and 325 IPC, citing lack of sufficient evidence.