1984 Riots: Ex-Congress Leader Sajjan Kumar Convicted for Father-Son Murders
On Wednesday, a special court found former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar guilty in a case involving the murder of a father-son duo during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Court delivered the verdict and scheduled sentencing arguments for February 18.
“The accused has been held guilty as per a separate judgment. The case is now listed for sentencing on the next hearing date,” the court stated.
Charges Against Sajjan Kumar
Kumar faced multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including:
- Section 302 – Murder
- Section 147 – Rioting
- Section 148 – Rioting while armed
- Section 149 – Unlawful assembly
- Section 308 – Attempt to commit culpable homicide
- Section 323 – Voluntarily causing hurt
These charges stemmed from an incident on November 1, 1984, when a mob allegedly led by Kumar attacked and killed Jaswant Singh and his son, Tarun Deep Singh, in West Delhi’s Raj Nagar.
Background of the Case
The case was initiated based on an FIR filed following an affidavit submitted on September 9, 1985, by a complainant whose identity remains protected.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in 2015 to reopen cases related to the 1984 riots. The complainant recorded her statement on November 23, 2016, leading to Kumar’s arrest on April 6, 2021.
At the time of his arrest, Kumar was already serving a life sentence for another case related to the 1984 riots. Additionally, two more cases are still pending against him.
Court’s Findings and Conviction
A Delhi court held Kumar guilty of multiple offenses, including rioting, dacoity, and culpable homicide. Judge Kaveri Baweja remarked in her 139-page order:
“In the light of… the evidence on record considered in its totality, I am of the opinion that the prosecution has been able to prove its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Thus, accused Sajjan Kumar… is hereby convicted of offences punishable under Sections 147/148/149 IPC and for offences punishable under Sections 302/308/323/395/397/427/436/440 read with Section 149 IPC.”
The court further determined that Kumar played a leading role in the violence.
“It has further been established that accused Sajjan Kumar, being a member of such unlawful assembly, is guilty of having committed the murder of S Jaswant Singh and S Tarundeep Singh, the husband and son of the complainant PW-13, during the incident of rioting which occurred on November 1, 1984,” the judgment stated.
Sentencing Hearing Scheduled
The special court has scheduled arguments for sentencing on February 18. Reacting to the conviction, senior advocate HS Phoolka welcomed the ruling, emphasizing the importance of punishing those responsible for such heinous crimes.
“Whatever time it might have taken, it’s important to punish the perpetrators of such heinous crime to uphold the rule of law,” Phoolka said.
Kumar’s Previous Convictions and Pending Cases
Sajjan Kumar, aged 79, is currently serving life imprisonment in another anti-Sikh riots case. His bail request was previously denied by the Supreme Court.
He has been in jail since December 31, 2018, after the Delhi High Court convicted him for his involvement in a separate 1984 riots case, where five Sikhs were killed in Raj Nagar Part I, Palam Colony, and a gurdwara was set ablaze in Raj Nagar Part II.
Kumar’s appeal against the Delhi High Court’s conviction is pending before the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the fourth case against him, related to a culpable homicide incident in Janakpuri during the riots, is set for evidence hearing on February 18.
Investigation and Legal Developments
This conviction marks the second case reopened on the recommendation of the SIT. The complainant’s testimony, recorded in 2016, played a crucial role in the proceedings. Kumar was ultimately arrested in 2021 while serving his life sentence.
In 2018, another accused in a related case received the death penalty, while another was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of three people in Mahipalpur during the riots.
Their appeals are currently pending before the Delhi High Court.
The 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots and Their Impact
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots erupted following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. Over 3,000 people, mostly Sikhs, were killed in the violence that followed.
The present case, involving the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son, was initially registered at the Punjabi Bagh police station.
A special investigation team later took over the case. On December 16, 2021, the court framed charges against Kumar, finding sufficient material for prosecution.
The Prosecution’s Case Against Kumar
According to the prosecution, a violent mob, armed with deadly weapons, engaged in large-scale looting, arson, and destruction of Sikh properties as retaliation for Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
The mob attacked the house of the complainant, killing her husband and son, looting valuables, and setting the residence ablaze.
The court, after evaluating the evidence, found enough material to form a prima facie opinion that Kumar was not just a participant but also led the mob responsible for the attack.
