1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Sajjan Kumar Claims Innocence, Alleges Political Vendetta In Delhi Court
Court recorded Kumar’s statement in the cases concerning the killings of Sohan Singh, his son-in-law Avtar Singh, and the alleged burning alive of Gurcharan Singh during the violence;
Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar on Monday contended his innocence before a Delhi Court in connection with two cases relating to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Janakpuri and Vikaspuri, alleging that the accusations against him are "politically motivated" and based on a biased investigation.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of Rouse Avenue Court recorded Kumar’s statement in the cases concerning the killings of Sohan Singh, his son-in-law Avtar Singh, and the alleged burning alive of Gurcharan Singh during the violence that erupted in the aftermath of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination.
Appearing physically before the Court, Kumar claimed that "no witness" had named him during the initial investigations and that his name surfaced decades later without credible evidence.
“The case against me is false and politically driven. There is not an iota of evidence. I organised peace marches and blood donation camps to restore harmony during that period,” Kumar told the court.
He also informed the Court that he had voluntarily undergone a lie detector test in an effort to prove his innocence.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted in 2015, had filed two FIRs against Kumar following complaints of targeted violence in Janakpuri and Vikaspuri. According to the prosecution, Sohan Singh and Avtar Singh were killed on November 1, 1984, in Janakpuri, while Gurcharan Singh was allegedly burnt alive in Vikaspuri the next day.
The Court has now posted the matter for further hearing on July 29.
Previously
In February, the Delhi Court had convicted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar for the murder of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi’s Saraswati Vihar.
Case Title: State v. Sajjan Kumar (Ex MP)
[Inputs: PTI]