Delhi Court Acquits Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa & Others in 12-Year-Old Protest Case Against Sajjan Kumar

The case dates back to May 2, 2013, when members of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and their supporters staged a protest at 24, Akbar Road, the central office of the Congress party, demanding action against Sajjan Kumar for his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

An FIR was registered in 2013 at Tughlak Road Police Station under Sections 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 188 (disobedience of public order), and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code. The prosecution alleged that around 500–600 supporters, led by the accused, gathered with placards, shouting slogans such as “Hang Sajjan Kumar,” “Congress Haye-Haye,” and “Sonia Gandhi Haye-Haye.”

According to the police, the protestors, despite warnings that Section 144 Cr.P.C. prohibiting assembly was in force in the area, breached barricades near Kothi No. 26, Akbar Road, and moved towards the AICC office. The prosecution further claimed that in the scuffle between police and protesters, the glass of a government bus was broken.

Those named as accused included Manjit Singh GK (then President of Shiromani Akali Dal Badal, Delhi Unit and Head of DSGMC), Manjinder Singh Sirsa (then General Secretary, DSGMC), Onkar Singh Thapar (Member, DSGMC), Kuldeep Singh Bhogal, Mandeep Kaur Bakshi, Avtar Singh Hit (Member, DSGMC), Harjeet Singh (then Vice-President, DSGMC), Harmeet Singh Kalka (then Joint Secretary, DSGMC), Tejinder Pal Singh Goldi (Member, DSGMC), and Baljeet Kaur Khalsa.

On September 23, 2025, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Neha Mittal of Rouse Avenue Court acquitted all accused, holding that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The Court observed, "On perusal of the statement of prosecution witnesses shows that it has nowhere been averred that any obstruction, annoyance or injury or danger to human life, health or safety was likely to take place because of the acts of the accused. No statement of any independent public witness has been recorded to show if any danger to life, health or safety was posed due to alleged acts of the accused. In view of the above discussion, this Court is of the considered opinion that the prosecution has failed to prove the commission of offence punishable u/ 188 IPC beyond reasonable doubt."

In her detailed order, ACJM Mittal held, “Accordingly, this court hereby accords the benefit of doubt to the accused persons for the offences under Sections 147/188 IPC and Section 427 read with 147, 149 IPC, and holds the accused persons not guilty of commission of said offences.”

The Court emphasized that the evidence brought on record by the prosecution was insufficient to establish the alleged unlawful assembly, rioting, and mischief charges.

Case Title: State v. Manjeet Singh Sirsa & Ors.