Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar has been convicted by a Delhi court in connection with the killings of two Sikhs during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The case revolves around the murder of Jaswant Singh and his son, Tarundeep Singh, in Saraswati Vihar, Delhi, on November 1, 1984. Kumar, who is already serving a life sentence in another case related to the riots, was found guilty of leading and inciting a mob that carried out the brutal killings. The court has scheduled arguments on the quantum of sentencing for February 18, which will determine his punishment for this case.
The verdict comes after nearly four decades of legal battles and repeated demands for justice by the victims' families and Sikh community leaders. The court had reserved its judgment in December 2024 after hearing final arguments from both the prosecution and the defense. According to the prosecution, Kumar played a pivotal role in instigating the mob, which was armed with weapons and carried out widespread looting, arson, and destruction of properties belonging to Sikhs in the area. The mob, allegedly led by Kumar, stormed into Jaswant Singh’s house, killed him and his son, ransacked their property, and then set their home ablaze.
Despite the mounting evidence and witness testimonies, Kumar has consistently denied all charges, maintaining his innocence throughout the legal proceedings. However, the court observed that there was "sufficient material" to establish that Kumar was not just a participant in the violence but was actively leading and encouraging the mob to attack Sikh families in the aftermath of the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Kumar’s legal troubles have intensified over the years, as he has previously been convicted in multiple cases related to abetment, delivering inflammatory speeches against Sikhs, and instigating communal violence. His involvement in the 1984 riots has remained a highly controversial topic, with victims and their families continuing to demand strict punishment for those responsible for the widespread killings of Sikhs during the riots.
The case gained renewed momentum after the Narendra Modi-led government came to power in 2014 and set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to reinvestigate cases related to the riots that had either been closed or had seen little progress over the years. The SIT’s findings played a crucial role in ensuring that long-pending cases, such as this one, were reopened, leading to Kumar’s conviction.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which erupted in the wake of Indira Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards, remain one of the darkest chapters in India’s history. Thousands of Sikhs were brutally murdered, their homes and businesses were destroyed, and countless families were left devastated. The judicial process to bring the perpetrators to justice has been slow and fraught with challenges, but verdicts like this are seen as a step toward accountability and closure for the victims' families.
With this conviction, Kumar joins a list of political figures who have been found guilty in connection with the 1984 riots, reinforcing the belief that justice, though delayed, is still possible. The upcoming sentencing hearing on February 18 will be closely watched, as it will determine the extent of punishment he will face for his role in the killings.
