Sajjan Kumar: A Delhi court has sentenced former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment for his involvement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The court took into account his age, 79, and ongoing health issues, which led to the decision of a lesser sentence rather than the death penalty. Kumar was convicted for the murders of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh, who were killed on November 1, 1984. Jaswant Singh’s widow had requested the death sentence for Kumar, but the court ultimately determined that life imprisonment was more appropriate.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, in her verdict, highlighted several factors influencing the decision. She referred to Kumar’s “satisfactory” behavior, as reported by jail authorities, and noted his ongoing medical treatment. Kumar is suffering from various health issues and is being treated in different departments at Safdarjung Hospital, where he is also prescribed antidepressants and sleep aids. The court further acknowledged that Kumar has “roots in society” and may have the possibility of reformation and rehabilitation, which played a crucial role in deciding against a death sentence.
The judge stated that, despite the serious nature of the crime and the tragic killings of two innocent individuals, the case did not meet the threshold of being the “rarest of rare” cases that would warrant a death sentence. The report from the jail authorities, which indicated that nothing “adverse” was reported about his behavior, further contributed to the decision for life imprisonment.
This case is linked to other convictions stemming from the same 1984 riots incident. In December 2018, Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court in another related case. He had been convicted for the killings of five people in Palam Colony during the riots, though his appeal against the life sentence is still pending before the Supreme Court. Additionally, there are two other appeals pending—one challenging his acquittal in a separate case before the Delhi High Court, and the other against his life sentence in two separate cases before the Supreme Court.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots were a dark chapter in Indian history, leading to the deaths of 2,733 people, according to the Nanavati Commission. The commission’s report also noted that out of 587 FIRs filed in connection with the violence in Delhi, 240 were closed by the police as “untraced,” and 250 cases resulted in acquittals. Despite this, the legal proceedings against individuals involved in the violence continue to this day.