Advertisement

Help
You are here: Rediff Home » India » News » PTI
Search:  Rediff.com The Web
Advertisement
  Discuss this Article   |      Email this Article   |      Print this Article

Sajjan Kumar under scanner in 1984 riots case
Krishnadas Rajagopal in New Delhi
Get news updates:What's this?
Advertisement
January 15, 2006 15:09 IST

Congress Member of Parliament Sajjan Kumar's alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots is back under the scanner with the Central Bureau of Investigation moving a Delhi court for all documents concerning two separate cases of murder, rioting and dacoity against him, which were earlier closed.

After examining the report of Nanavati Commission, which indicted the Delhi Congress strongman, the CBI said in an affidavit filed before a Metropolitan Magistrate that 'despite statements by witnesses indicating involvement of Kumar, no chargesheets were filed against him and cases were terminated as untraced'.

The CBI is acting on the Centre's directive to re-open cases against Kumar, former Union minister Jagdish Tytler and some other leaders against whom the Commission found 'credible evidence' of involvement in the riots, which broke out following the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi [Images].

Tytler was forced to quit the Union Cabinet, while Kumar resigned as chairman of Delhi Rural Development Board after their indictment created a political storm, as opposition parties and Sikh religious groups raised a hue and cry.

Both the cases against Kumar lodged at the Sultanpuri police station were re-registered by the the probe agency later last year.

The CBI has sought possession of original documents of the cases, statements of witnesses filed by Delhi Police, a copy of closure report dated February 8, 1994, orders of a Metropolitan Magistrate dated February 28, 2004 on  acceptance of closure report and case diaries.

Another Magistrate court had earlier accepted the closure reports in both matters filed by Delhi Police, which said the assailants could not be 'traced'.

In one of the two FIRs in question, Joginder Singh, a resident of Sultanpuri in West Delhi alleged that Sajjan Kumar, the Outer Delhi MP, had on November 1, 1984 'brought a mob of ruffians and told them they had 72 hours' freedom to kill Sikhs and no Sikh should escape'.

Singh further related how his 32-year-old brother Surjeet Singh was 'dragged out and burnt alive'. "I was not allowed to save my brother and was pushed away by the assailants," he had further said in his affidavit.

In the second FIR filed by one Anek Kaur of the same area said she saw Sajjan Kumar, accompanied by another Congress leader Jai Kishan, threaten people gheraoed by a rampaging mob that 'all members of the Sikh community would be killed'.


© Copyright 2008 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
 Email this Article      Print this Article

© 2008 Rediff.com India Limited. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Feedback