Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, who has been awarded a life sentence by the Delhi High Court in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, surrendered before the Karkardooma Court on Monday, December 31st- a date that was set as a deadline by the court to surrender. Later, the court had sent him to Mandoli Jail.
Other accused, Khokhar and Yadav surrendered before Metropolitan Magistrate Aditi Garg after the court accepted their application to surrender.
Earlier on December 17, While reversing the acquittal of a trial court, The Delhi High Court convicted Congress Leader and Former MP Sajjan Kumar and sentence him life imprisonment in connection to 1984 anti-Sikh riots that took place in the capital following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indra Gandhi. He has to surrender by 31st December 2018. Delhi High Court on December 17 had also extended the life imprisonment of other two convicts, Kishan Khokkar and former legislator Mahendra Yadav from 3 years to 10 years.
On December 21st, Delhi HC rejected Congress Leader Sajjan Kumar’s request seeking more time to surrender after he was convicted in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Kumar had approached the Delhi High Court on Friday to seek more time, till January 31, to surrender, saying that he has three children and eight grandchildren and needs to settle matters related to his property.
After which Kumar moved to Apex Court on December 22 against his Conviction.
Kumar’s lawyer said Sajjan Kumar will comply with the high court’s judgment as the Supreme Court was not likely to grant a hearing to his appeal against the high court verdict during the vacation, which is ending on January 1.
Anil Kumar Sharma said they have removed the objections in their appeal filed in the top court but since the court was on vacation till January 1, it was not likely to be taken up for hearing by December 31 and also the chances of mentioning for an urgent listing of the appeal was not there. The Supreme Court will open on January 2 after the winter break.
“Court has sent him to Mandoli Jail. Court has also ordered that a separate van would be provided for his movement due to security reasons,” said Sajjan Kumar Lawyer after he surrendered before Delhi’s Karkardooma Court.
Lawyer of convict Sajjan Kumar after he surrendered before Delhi's Karkardooma Court in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case: Court has sent him to Mandoli Jail. Court has also ordered that a separate van would be provided for his movement due to security reasons. pic.twitter.com/OfypwRARkJ
— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2018
Sajjan Kumar also appeared before Patiala House Court in another case related to riots, registered by Central Bureau of Investigation on the recommendation of Nanavati Commission Report. The Court has adjourned the matter till January 22.
As per the official records, more than 2700 Sikhs were killed across the nation after the Assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.