A Delhi court has announced charges against formerCongress leader Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 riots case, in connection with twomurders in Delhi's Raj Nagar locality.
The court charged him with rioting, murder, and dacoityunder sections 147, 149, 148, 302, 308, 323, 395, 397, 427, 436, 440 of theIndian Penal Code (IPC) in connection with the murder of Jaswant Singh andTarun Deep Singh.
The family of the duo had alleged that Sajjan Kumarinstigated a mob that led to burning alive of the two men besides setting afiretheir house on November 1, 1984.
As per the case in this regard registered at theSaraswati Vihar police station, Sajjan Kumar was identified by one eyewitnessafter showing his photograph.
Earlier in 1994, the case was closed as untraced and theSIT had opened it again, advocate Harpreet Singh Hora apprised.
The court has heard arguments from both sides and now thematter is listed on December 16 for formal framing of charges.
"This court is of the considered opinion that aprima facie case is made out against the accused for framing of charge againsthim for commission of the offences punishable under sections of 147/148/149 IPCas well as the offences punishable under 302/308/ 323/395/397/427/436/440 readwith Section 149 IPC. Charges are accordingly directed to be framed against himfor the said offences," read the order of Additional Sessions Judge M.K.Nagpal dated December 4.
The court order said the evidence is sufficient to make aprima facie opinion that an unlawful assembly or mob of several thousandpersons armed with deadly weapons like iron rods was there to resort tolarge-scale looting, arson, or destruction of property of Sikhs to avenge thekilling of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two Sikh bodyguards.
"The above incident of attack on the house ofcomplainant took place at the hand of said mob only and in the said attack notonly the house and other household articles of the complainant were looted anddestroyed, by fire or otherwise, but also the killing of her husband and sontook place and even the complainant and the other victims suffered injuries atthe hands of participants of such mob," the court order read.
"Further, there is also sufficient material onrecord for this court to form a prima facie opinion that the accused was notonly a participant of the said mob but also leading it", it read.