A DELHI court on Tuesday deferred its verdict to January 31 in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots murder case against former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar. Special judge Kaveri Baweja, who was scheduled to pass the order on Tuesday, deferred the pronouncement to January 31 after the prosecution sought time to further argue on certain points. An application was moved by the public prosecutor seeking to argue on certain points, which he said were essential for just adjudication of the case. He said the arguments were in response to defence counsel’s submissions made on January 8, 2025 on certain issues. “Submissions heard. In view of the aforesaid submissions, the case is directed to be listed for arguments on behalf of PP for the State on January 31, 2025,” the judge said.

 

The case is over the alleged killings of two persons in Saraswati Vihar area during the anti-Sikh riots. Kumar, who is currently lodged in Tihar central jail, appeared before the court through video-conferencing. The court reserved the judgment after hearing the final arguments over the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984. Though Punjabi Bagh police station registered the case initially, a special investigation team later took over the investigation.

 

On December 16, 2021, the court framed charges against Kumar, finding a “prima facie” case against him. According to the prosecution, a huge mob, armed with deadly weapons, resorted to large-scale looting, arson and destruction of properties of Sikhs to avenge the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The mob attacked the house of the complainant, Jaswant’s wife, killing her husband and son apart from looting articles and setting their house ablaze, alleged the prosecution. Putting Kumar on trial, the court order found sufficient material to form a “prima facie opinion that he was not only a participant, but had also led the mob”.