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The Delhi high court on Wednesday turned down a plea by Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, urging it not to hear the contention of a victim's family, who had filed a complaint against him for his alleged involvement in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
The Congress leader made the submission before a bench hearing a bunch of appeals, filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and others, challenging his acquittal in a case where he is accused of leading a mob that killed 49 Sikhs.
"There is no need to hear the victim's side after the state has filed the appeal against the order of the trial court as the state is the only custodian of law and it would create confusion if they are allowed to argue in the case," said senior advocate I U Khan, appearing for the leader.
A bench comprising Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Suresh Kait, however, said there is nothing wrong in allowing the complainants to argue in the case.
"Let them argue. We will not be confused," the bench said while posting the matter for further hearing on January 16.
The court was hearing appeals filed in 2003, challenging the trial court's verdict acquitting Sajjan Kumar and a former Congress Member of Legislative Assembly Jaikishan, in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
Acquitting the Congress leader and 10 other co-accused, the trial court had said the investigating agency had 'miserably' failed to prove the case against them. Fourteen persons were accused in the case. Three of them died during the trial.