HC defers verdict on Sajjan’s plea in 84' riots case

A file photo of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar. HT Photo/Sonu Mehta

The Delhi high court on Monday deferred pronouncement of a verdict on Congress leader Sajjan Kumar’s plea challenging framing of charges in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case related to killing of six persons in Sultanpuri. The court said further hearing was required in the case.

“While preparing the judgement, I felt this matter should be heard further. I am posting the case to May 15 for further hearing,” Justice Suresh Kait said.

Besides charges of murder and rioting, a lower court had in July 2010 framed charges for the offence of spreading enmity between two communities against Kumar and four other accused — Brahmanand Gupta, Peru, Khushal Singh and Ved Prakash — in connection with the riots which broke out after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The HC had reserved the case for orders after hearing the lawyer for Sajjan, CBI and victims in December last year.

Besides Kumar, co-accused Ved Prakash Pial alias Vedu Pradhan and Brahmanand Gupta had also moved the high court against the framing of charges.

Complainant Sheela Kaur had filed a cross-appeal in the high court, seeking to invoke charges of criminal conspiracy against Kumar and other four accused in the case.

Verdict today in another caseNew Delhi: Another 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which Sajjan Kumar and five others are accused will be decided on Tuesday. District judge JR Aryan had reserved the judgement on April 16 after the CBI counsel and the accused concluded their final arguments in the case.

Besides the Congress MLA, the other accused in the case are Balwan Khokkar, Kishan Khokkar, Mahender Yadav, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal. They are accused of conspiring and inciting a mob against the Sikh community in Delhi Cantonment area in which five members of a single Sikh family were murdered by mobs. HTC