Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar has been sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the murders of two individuals during the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. This landmark verdict is a significant development in a case that has spanned decades and highlights the long-awaited pursuit of justice for the victims of these tragic events.
Timeline of Key Events in the Case:
- 1991: An FIR is lodged in connection with the riots.
- July 8, 1994: A Delhi court concludes there is insufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution, and Kumar is not chargesheeted.
- February 12, 2015: The government establishes a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to re-examine the case.
- November 21, 2016: The SIT informs the court that further investigation is necessary.
- April 6, 2021: Kumar is arrested as part of the renewed inquiry.
- May 5, 2021: The police submit a chargesheet against him.
- July 26, 2021: The court acknowledges the chargesheet.
- October 1, 2021: Arguments regarding the charges commence in court.
- December 16, 2021: The court frames charges of murder, rioting, and other offenses against Kumar.
- January 31, 2024: The court begins hearing final arguments.
- November 8, 2024: The court reserves its verdict.
- February 12, 2025: Kumar is convicted.
- February 25, 2025: He receives a life term in prison.
According to the Nanavati Commission, which investigated the riots and their aftermath, a total of 587 FIRs were filed in Delhi related to the violence, resulting in the deaths of 2,733 individuals. Of these, approximately 240 FIRs were closed by police as “untraced,” and 250 cases ended in acquittals. Ultimately, only 28 of the 587 FIRs led to convictions, with around 400 individuals found guilty, including about 50 for murder.
At the time of the riots, Kumar was a prominent Congress leader and member of parliament. He is also implicated in a separate case concerning the killings of five individuals in Delhi’s Palam Colony on November 1 and 2, 1984. In that case, he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court, and his appeal against this ruling is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
Additionally, another appeal against Kumar’s earlier acquittal by a trial court is awaiting adjudication in the Delhi High Court, while a separate trial is ongoing for a fourth case involving his alleged involvement in the riots. The recent sentencing marks a pivotal moment in the long struggle for accountability surrounding the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
