Court admits appeal against Sajjan Kumar's acquittal

The Delhi high court on Tuesday admitted an appeal filed by the CBI against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's acquittal in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

The Delhi high court on Tuesday admitted an appeal filed by the CBI against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's acquittal in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

A division bench of justice GS Sistani and justice GP Mittal would next hear the case October 30.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that the trial court "erred in acquitting Sajjan Kumar as it was he who had instigated the mob during the riots".

The family members of some victims, who had filed a separate appeal challenging Sajjan Kumar's acquittal, withdrew their plea as the court suggested that the grounds raised by them would be taken as additional grounds in the probe agency's appeal.

The trial court May 30 acquitted Sajjan Kumar in a case related to the killing of five people in Delhi Cantonment area during violence against the Sikhs following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi October 31, 1984.

The trial court acquitted Sajjan Kumar, a former Lok Sabha member from outer Delhi, but convicted five others - former councillor Balwan Khokkar, former legislator Mahender Yadav, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal - for their involvement in the case.

The case against Sajjan Kumar and the others was registered in 2005.