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 Singhโs 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, Kumarโs 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 complainantโs 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.
