The Delhi High Court Friday declined to stay criminal proceedings for murder and other charges to be initiated against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar over the killing of six people during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Sajjan Kumar moved the high court, challenging the charges framed against him by the trial court July 1 in a case related to riots in Sultanpuri area here. The former MP had been charged with murder, rioting and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.
Justice A.K. Pathak declined the plea of the veteran politician, who sought a stay on the trial till his petition challenging the framing of charges is decided by the court.
Sajjan Kumar is facing prosecution in two cases – in which he has been accused of inciting mobs against Sikhs in Sultanpuri and Delhi Cantonment areas after then prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated Oct 31, 1984.
The trial court had in May this year framed charges under sections 302 (murder), 395 (dacoity), 427 (mischief to property), 153A (promoting enmity between different communities) and other provisions of IPC paving the way for trial of Sajjan Kumar and five others.
The case relates to killing of six people in Sultanpuri in north-west Delhi Oct 31, 1984. Besides Sajjan Kumar, the court framed charges against Brahmanand Gupta, Peru, Khushal Singh and Ved Prakash.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had also charged Sajjan Kumar with provoking people against the Sikh community leading to the killing of five people in Delhi Cantonment.
Besides Sajjan Kumar, the others accused in the case are Balwan Khokhar, Krishan Khokhar, Mahender Yadav, Captain Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal.
In this particular case, the apex court has stayed the proceedings against the former MP and issued notice to the CBI on Sajjan Kumar’s appeal challenging his prosecution.
The CBI had filed two chargesheets against Sajjan Kumar and others Jan 13 on the recommendation of Justice G.T. Nanavati Commission, which inquired into the sequence of events leading to the riots.
