In a landmark judicial pronouncement, the Rouse Avenue Court has recently convicted former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh pogrom, specifically in connection with the targeted killings of Jaswant Singh and his son, Tarundeep Singh, in Saraswati Vihar on November 1, 1984.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja rendered the verdict, with sentencing scheduled for February 18.
Kumar, already serving a life sentence for his involvement in another anti-Sikh riots case pertaining to the Delhi Cantonment region, was physically present in court for this ruling. The court had previously reserved its decision on January 31 following additional submissions by Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat.
Political Ramifications and BJP’s Accusations
The conviction has reignited partisan contestation, with Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva launching a scathing critique of the Nehru-Gandhi family, accusing them of systematically shielding and promoting individuals implicated in the 1984 violence. Sachdeva further commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi for establishing a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to re-investigate long-dormant cases associated with the riots.
“Today, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has held Sajjan Kumar guilty of the 1984 riots… I especially thank Prime Minister Modi for forming an SIT regarding the riots… The Nehru-Gandhi family had nurtured and promoted the accused of the ’84 riots…,” Sachdeva asserted.
Legal Contentions: Defense Versus Prosecution
During the proceedings, Kumar’s defense counsel, Advocate Anil Sharma, contended that his client’s name was not included in the initial investigative records and was incorporated into the legal framework only 16 years later. Sharma also emphasized that Kumar’s prior conviction by the Delhi High Court remains under appellate review before the Supreme Court.
In contrast, Additional Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat argued that although the victim initially refrained from naming Kumar, subsequent testimony provided a direct and unequivocal identification. The prosecution asserted that Kumar played an instrumental role in orchestrating mob violence, inciting targeted killings, and overseeing the large-scale arson and looting of Sikh properties in the aftermath of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
Legal and Historical Implications
This conviction represents a critical adjudicative milestone in the protracted legal pursuit of accountability for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a tragic episode that resulted in the deaths of approximately 2,700 Sikhs in Delhi alone. The impending sentencing on February 18 will not only determine Kumar’s penal consequences but will also contribute to broader legal and historiographical discourses on state complicity, communal violence, and the enduring quest for justice in postcolonial India.
Read More: Supreme Court, Delhi High Court, States High Court, International
