1984 riots: Delhi High Court refuses to stay trial of Sajjan Kumar

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court on Friday rejected a plea to stay the trial of senior Congress leader and former member of parliament Sajjan Kumar in connection with his role in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which six persons were killed.

High Court Justice A K Pathak declined Kumar plea. Kumar is facing charges of murder and rioting that were framed by a lower court.

Refusing to stay criminal proceedings for his alleged involvement in riots in the national capital’s Sultanpuri area, Justice Pathak issued notice on his petition to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file its reply by September 16.

Kumar has two cases registered against him, one of which, a case involving the death of five persons in the Delhi Cantonment area, has been stayed.

Last Friday, the Supreme Court stayed trial proceedings against Kumar.

A bench of Justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan also issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Kumar”s appeal challenging his prosecution.

The Delhi High Court had on July 19 dismissed Kumar”s petition challenging a trial court’s order to frame charges against him in the case.

In the order, Justice Vipin Sanghi questioned the motive of the Delhi Police in cancelling the First Information Report against Kumar when the CBI was still probing the matter.

Justice Sanghi directed the trial court to hold the proceedings against him expeditiously in the anti-Sikh riots cases.

The trial court had on July 7 framed charges against him in another case in connection with the riot case.

The trial court had in May this year framed charges under Sections 302 (murder), 395 (dacoity), 427 (mischief to property), 153A (promoting enmity between different communities) and other provisions of the IPC paving the way for trial of Kumar and five others.

The Supreme Court had on March 29 granted relief to him, saying it would not intervene with a Delhi High Court order that granted bail to Kumar in the case.

The Delhi High Court had on February 26 granted bail to Sajjan Kumar in connection with two cases registered against him in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

The Karkardooma Court had on February 23 issued a fresh non-bailable warrant against Kumar and slammed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its failure to arrest Kumar and others accused in the case.

Earlier, the court had issued two non-bailable warrants against Kumar, who had surrendered before the court on March 10. (ANI)