Ex-Congress MP Sajjan Kumar convicted in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case
What's the story
Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar was convicted by the Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The conviction pertains to the murder of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in Delhi's Saraswati Vihar on November 1, 1984. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja passed the conviction order, with arguments regarding Kumar's sentencing scheduled for February 18.
Ongoing sentence
Kumar already serving life sentence for similar crime
Kumar is already serving a life sentence in another anti-Sikh riots case pertaining to killings in Delhi Cantonment. At Delhi Cantonment's Raj Nagar area, five Sikhs of the same family, namely Kehar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raghuvender Singh, Narender Pal Singh, and Kuldeep Singh, were brutally murdered. He was accused of directing the mob to "seek revenge." The 1984 riots were sparked by the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, resulting in rampant violence against Sikhs.
Case transfer
Special investigation team took over case
Initially, the case against Kumar was registered by the Punjabi Bagh police station. However, a special investigation team later took over the case owing to the gravity of the crimes. On December 16, 2021, charges were framed against Kumar after finding a "prima facie opinion that he was not only a participant but had also led the mob." The prosecution alleged a mob attacked Jaswant's house, killing him and his son while looting and setting their property ablaze.