Amid fierce protests in Delhi and Punjab against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar’s acquittal in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, the CBI plans to challenge the relief to former party MP from the trial court in the case.
Sajjan Kumar could face more trouble as the agency has decided to fast track another anti-Sikh riot case against him. The case was registered by the Delhi Police in 1992 and was referred by Union Home Ministry last year for a CBI probe. The case relates to arson and rioting in Nangloi area. The Delhi Police had filed a closure report in the case claiming there was no evidence to implicate him.
CBI sources said the agency has studied the trial court order and has found “strong grounds” to file an appeal against his acquittal in a superior court. A final decision, however, will be taken after the trial court pronounces its verdict on the quantum of sentence for those found guilty in the case, the sources said.
Once the quantum of punishment for the other accused is pronounced by the trial court, the CBI would approach the law Ministry seeking its approval for initiation of the process of appeal in the High Court to challenge the verdict.
District and Sessions Judge JR Aryan had on April 30 acquitted Kumar in the 29-year-old case in which he was accused of murder and of instigating a riotous mob that killed five Sikhs in Delhi’s Cantonment area.
Five others, Balwan Khokkar a former councillor, Mahender Yadav a former MlA, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari lal and Captain Bhagmal, were convicted for their involvement in the riots that had broken out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.
Kumar, a former lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi who was refused a Congress ticket for the 2009 lok Sabha elections, still faces trial in another 1984 rioting case.
His acquittal has led to widespread protests by Sikhs in the Capital and in parts of Punjab.