A Delhi court has convicted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, holding him guilty of the murders of two individuals in the Saraswati Vihar area. The verdict, delivered by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, found Kumar guilty of multiple charges, including rioting, murder, and dacoity under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The prosecution argued that Kumar played a key role in inciting and leading violent mobs that targeted Sikh families in retaliation for the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The attack on the victims, Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh, was part of a larger wave of violence in which armed mobs looted and torched Sikh-owned properties, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life.
The case against Kumar was initially registered at the Punjabi Bagh police station but was later taken over by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to probe the anti-Sikh riots. The court had framed charges against Kumar in December 2021, stating that there was a prima facie case against him. During the trial, the prosecution presented eyewitness testimonies and other evidence indicating Kumar’s direct involvement in orchestrating and leading the attack on the victims’ home. The victim’s widow recounted how a mob stormed their house on November 1, 1984, brutally killing her husband and son before setting the property ablaze. The court found sufficient material to conclude that Kumar was not just a participant but also an instigator of the violence.
Following the conviction, Sajjan Kumar was brought to court from Tihar Jail for the pronouncement of the verdict. The court has scheduled arguments on sentencing for February 18, where the prosecution is expected to seek the maximum penalty for his crimes. The conviction is being seen as a significant development in the long-delayed pursuit of justice for the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of Sikhs across India. Many Sikh organizations and human rights activists have welcomed the ruling, calling it a step toward accountability for the political figures accused of orchestrating the violence. However, they also emphasize that justice is incomplete until all those responsible for the riots are held to account.
