Updated December 17th, 2018 at 11:22 IST
Justice for 1984: Congress' Sajjan Kumar gets life term for role in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case
The Delhi High Court on Monday reversed the trial court's decision to acquit Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case
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The Delhi High Court on Monday reversed the trial court's decision to acquit Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, awarding life term and Rs 5 lakh fine to the Congress leader for his role in the heinous crime, and ordering him to surrender before the end of 2018.
Stating that the crime which took place 34 years ago was an act against humanity, the judge pronounced that it was a failure of police and their failure to record FIR and daily diary registrar. All the accused in the case have been found guilty.
The judge, while reading out the judgment, had stated that the accused in the 1984 riots had escaped trial having enjoyed political patronage.
READ: Was Congress’ Sajjan Kumar Guilty? Courts To Decide 1984 Riots Verdict On December 17
In the aftermath of the judgment, many political leaders expressed their delight and called for similar punishments to be handed to the others who are still to be convicted.
This comes after the bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel had concluded hearing arguments on the appeals filed by the CBI, riot survivors, and convicts. In November, there were a number of major developments in the case.
- On November 20, the first death penalty was awarded in the matter, to Yashpal Singh for the slaughter two men in the riots.
- On November 28, the Delhi High Court had dismissed 23 review pleas filed by more than 88 accused persons against their conviction by a sessions court in the riots cases.
- Crucially, also in November, Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was identified and named by a victim, named Cham Kaur in the riots case at a hearing in the Patiala House Court.
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Published December 17th, 2018 at 10:32 IST