1981 AI hijack: two move HC for quashing of FIR

Two alleged Sikh militants, sent back to India in 2000 after serving a life term in Pakistan for hijacking an Air India plane to that country in 1981, have moved the Delhi high court for quashing a fresh trial against them here for the same offence.

Two alleged Sikh militants, sent back to India in 2000 after serving a life term in Pakistan for hijacking an Air India plane to that country in 1981, have moved the Delhi high court for quashing a fresh trial against them here for the same offence.

The two also sought quashing of the trial court's order to begin the process to declare them proclaimed offenders (PO) in the case.

Issuing notice to the city police on the plea of Jalandhar resident Tejinder Singh and Chandigarh resident Satnam Singh, Justice Manmohan sought its response by April 8, 2013.

The duo, along with three others - Gajender Singh, Karan Singh Kini and Jasbir Singh Jima, were deported from Pakistan to India in 2000 after serving the life term for hijacking the AI plane to that country from here.

The case against the five dates back to September 29, 1981 when they hijacked an Air India plane from New Delhi to Srinagar en route Amritsar and forced it to land in Pakistan, where they were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.

After their deportation to India in 2000, they had sought their discharge from the case registered here but a sessions court had dismissed their plea and had asked police to file charge sheeti against them.

The two said in their plea to the high court that "the criminal proceeding against them is arbitrary, perverse and is totally unjustified apart from being contrary to the law and fact.

"On the basis of fresh charge sheet, the court passed the order completely casual and perfunctory manner without due application of judicious mind," they said.