Sajjan Kumar moves Supreme Court against conviction in 1984 anti-Sikh riots

Former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar on Saturday moved to the Supreme Court against his conviction in the 1984-anti Sikh riots case by the Delhi Court. On Monday, Sajjan Kumar was held guilty of killing five people during the anti-Sikh riots following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by his Sikh bodyguards. More than 3,000 Sikhs were brutally killed in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots following Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards who were upset with her over the Army’s Operation Bluestar inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar were accused of masterminding the riots.

Pronouncing the final verdict in the case against Sajjan Kumar, the Delhi High Court had observed that the mass killings of Sikhs between November 1 and 4, 1984 in Delhi and the rest of the country in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination was “carnage of unbelievable proportions”.

Also Read | Rahul Gandhi says he supports punishment to those involved in 1984 anti-Sikh riots

“What happened in the aftermath of the assassination of the then PM was carnage of unbelievable proportions in which over 2,700 Sikhs were murdered in Delhi alone. Law and order clearly broke down and it was literally a free for all situation. Aftershocks of that still being felt,” the High Court said while reading out the judgment.

Besides Sajjan Kumar, Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and former Congress councillor Balwan Khokhar have been sentenced to life imprisonment, while Kishan Khokkar and former legislator Mahender Yadav have been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Earlier on Friday, the Delhi High Court had rejected Sajjan Kumar's plea seeking more time to surrender after he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. Following his conviction in the anti-Sikh riots case, the High Court had ordered him to surrender before the administration by December 31.

Also Read | Carnage of unbelievable proportion: Delhi High Court's observation on 1984 anti-Sikh riots

Sajjan Kumar had sought a month’s time to surrender, saying that he has eight grandchildren and needs time to settle personal matters. However, a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel said it saw no grounds to grant him the relief and dismissed the plea.

Sajjan Kumar had moved an application before the Delhi High Court and sought a month’s time to surrender, saying that he has eight grandchildren and needs time to settle personal matters.