Why didn't complainant name me earlier: Sajjan

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, facing trial in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, on Friday questioned in a Delhi court as to why the complainant and key witness Jagdish Kaur did not name him earlier despite having 'ample opportunities'.

Continuing the final arguments, Kumar's counsel said that the complainant had made 'false' statement naming him as the one who had allegedly instigated the mob during the riots only to strengthen the Central Bureau of Investigation's case.

"Jagdish Kaur had ample opportunities from 1984 until now but she did not name Kumar as an accused in her statements earlier. In her statement to the Delhi police in November, 1984, except Kumar, she named everyone as accused.

"Same was with her other statements given to the police or affidavits to various judicial commissions. She named him only before Justice Nanavati Commission in an affidavit in 2000 and in her statement before the court," Kumar's counsel I U Khan argued before District Judge J R Aryan.

He also said Kaur had admitted that there was no pressure on her and this shows all her statements were voluntary, then why she did not name Kumar earlier in front of army officers who saved her during the carnage.

The arguments remained inconclusive and would continue on September 3.

Sajjan Kumar is facing trial along with five others - Balwan Khokkar, Kishan Khokkar, Mahender Yadav, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal - for allegedly inciting a mob against the Sikh community in Delhi Cantonment area in New Delhi.

The case is related to anti-Sikh riots that had broken out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.