Delhi court sentences Sajjan Kumar to life in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case

A Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced Congress leader Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment for his involvement in the killing of a father-son duo during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the Saraswati Vihar area. This verdict follows his conviction on February 12 for the murders.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja sentenced Sajjan Kumar under Section 302 (murder) read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the IPC. Additionally, he received life imprisonment for destruction of property by fire under Section 436 read with Section 149. He was also sentenced for other offences for which he was convicted.

The Rouse Avenue Court had reserved its decision on the quantum of punishment on February 21. Riot victims had sought the death penalty for Kumar, who is already serving a life sentence following his 2018 conviction by the Delhi High Court in a separate case related to the riots.

Senior counsel H.S. Phoolka, representing the 1984 riot victims, appeared online and submitted written arguments advocating for the death penalty. On February 17, the prosecution also pushed for the maximum sentence, citing the gravity of the crime. Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Manish Rawat argued that the case fell under the "rarest of rare" category, similar to the Nirbhaya case, as it involved targeted violence against a community. He emphasized that the riots severely disrupted communal harmony and trust.

The case pertains to the killing of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in Saraswati Vihar on November 1, 1984. Sajjan Kumar's lawyer, Advocate Anil Sharma, argued that Kumar’s name was not mentioned in the initial investigations and was introduced 16 years later. He also pointed out that Kumar’s conviction in another case by the Delhi High Court is currently under appeal in the Supreme Court.

During rebuttal arguments, APP Manish Rawat stated that the victim did not initially know Kumar but named him after recognizing his photograph in a magazine. H.S. Phoolka argued that the police had deliberately manipulated investigations to protect the accused, calling the riots an act of genocide.

He cited a Delhi High Court judgment that described the 1984 violence as a "crime against humanity," emphasizing that 2,700 Sikhs were killed in Delhi alone. He also referred to international laws on genocide and the Geneva Convention, arguing that justice had been delayed due to political interference.

The case was initially registered at the Punjabi Bagh police station before being handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) based on the recommendations of the Justice G.P. Mathur Committee. The SIT, which reopened 114 cases, alleged that Sajjan Kumar led a violent mob that burned alive two individuals, looted and destroyed their property, and severely injured other family members.

During further investigation, key witnesses were identified, and their statements were recorded under Section 161 CrPC. One of the complainants provided testimony in 2016, recounting the looting, arson, and murders. She stated that she recognized Sajjan Kumar’s photograph in a magazine about six weeks after the incident.

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots erupted following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984, leading to the deaths of at least 2,800 people in Delhi alone.