1981 Air India Flight Hijack: Delhi court acquits two accused
What's the story
A Delhi court today acquitted two men, Tajinder Pal Singh and Satnam Singh, accused of hijacking a New Delhi-Srinagar Air India flight. According to the prosecution, on September 29, 1981, the two men allegedly hijacked an AI plane from New Delhi en route to Srinagar via Amritsar and forced it to land in Lahore, Pakistan, where they were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Information
In 2000, accused were deported from Pakistan after serving life-term
Both the accused were deported in 2000 from Pakistan after serving life-term for hijacking. They had later sought their discharge from the case but a Sessions Court had dismissed their plea.
Charges
Delhi Police had charge-sheeted the duo under various IPC sections
In 2011, Delhi Police had charge-sheeted them under various Sections 121 (waging war against Indian Government), 121A (conspiring to commit certain offenses against the state), 124A (sedition), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC. Delhi HC had also dismissed their plea seeking stay on Sessions Court order and asked the trial court to proceed with the matter. Both were granted bail in July 2017.