Summary

The prosecution, along with Jaswant Singhโ€™s wife, had demanded the death penalty for Kumar, saying it deserves max. punishment

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment in a murder case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

 

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja delivered the verdict for the killing of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984.

 

The prosecution, along with Jaswant Singhโ€™s wife, had demanded the death penalty for Kumar, arguing that the crime warranted the maximum punishment.

 

However, the court awarded life imprisonment, as per the legal provisions where murder carries a minimum sentence of life and a maximum of the death penalty.

 

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Kumar was convicted on February 12, after which the court sought a psychiatric and psychological evaluation report from Tihar Central Jail, in line with a Supreme Court directive for cases involving capital punishment.

 

Currently lodged in Tihar Jail, Kumarโ€™s case was initially registered at Punjabi Bagh Police Station but was later taken over by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

 

The prosecution stated that on November 1, 1984, a violent mob, armed with weapons, carried out large-scale looting, arson, and attacks on Sikh families in retaliation for the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

 

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The mob allegedly stormed the complainantโ€™s house, looted valuables, and set their home on fire, killing Jaswant Singh and Tarundeep Singh.

 

The court found Kumar guilty of orchestrating the attack, leading to his sentencing.

 

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots erupted after Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards, leading to the deaths of thousands of Sikhs across India.