HC reserves order in 1984 Sikh riots case against Sajjan Kumar

The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on a plea by former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar against a trial court order that charged him in a case related to the death of six men during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on a plea by former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar against a trial court order that charged him in a case related to the death of six men during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The Court of Justice Suresh Kait had previously reserved its order on the plea,but had called for clarification on a cross-appeal filed by the wife of one of the six men killed during the riots in Sultanpuri. Sheela Kaur had approached the High Court with the plea that Kumar be charged with the offence of criminal conspiracy in addition to other criminal charges levelled against him.

Sajjan Kumar had addressed a gathering of people and had encouraged them to kill Sikhs,after which the killings had taken place, Sheela Kaurs lawyer senior advocate H S Phoolka said.

The leader had made a provocative speech and then the mob acted in furtherance of their common design in killing Sikhs, Phoolka said,adding that the lower courts order of not invoking the charge was illegal.

The CBI said that ample prima facie evidence was available to frame the conspiracy charge against Kumar.

Kumars counsel opposed the charge saying no witness had alleged that Kumar had conspired with others. The chargesheet and the order on framing charges does not mention Section 120-B, A K Sharma said.

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