1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Case highlights: Convict Sajjan Kumar brought to Delhi’s Mandoli Jail

Former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar on Monday surrendered before a Delhi court to serve life sentence in connection with a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which he was convicted by the Delhi High Court.Kumar’s lawyer said options are running out for him as the Supreme Court is not likely to grant hearing to his appeal against the high court verdict during the vacation, which is ending on January 1.Here are the highlights:

3:30 pm IST

Convict Sajjan Kumar brought to Delhi’s Mandoli Jail

Convict Sajjan Kumar brought to Delhi’s Mandoli Jail. He surrendered before Karkardooma Court earlier today, reports news agency ANI.

3:25 pm IST

Delhi High Court had on Dec 17 convicted Kumar and sentenced to imprisonment

The Delhi High Court had on December 17 convicted Kumar and sentenced to imprisonment for “remainder of his natural life” in another 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, saying the riots were a “crime against humanity” perpetrated by those who enjoyed “political patronage” and aided by an “indifferent” law enforcement agency.

2:56 pm IST

Court allows Sajjan Kumar’s plea for security

The Karkardooma court has allowed Sajjan Kumar’s plea for security. He will be taken to jail in a separate vehicle, report news agencies.

2:54 Ppm IST

Court directs Kumar to be sent to Mandoli jail in northeast Delhi

The court has directed Sajjan Kumar to be sent to Mandoli jail in northeast Delhi, reports PTI.

2:52 pm IST

Delhi court rejects Sajjan Kumar’s plea to be lodged in Tihar jail

Delhi court rejects Sajjan Kumar’s plea to be lodged in Tihar jail, reports PTI.

2:48 pm IST

1984 sikh roits victims standoutside Karkarduma court

1984 sikh roits victims stand outside the Karkarduma court after Sajjan Kumar surrendered.

1984 sikh roits victims stand outside the Karkarduma court ( HT Photo (Raj K Raj) )

2:30 pm IST

Former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar surrenders in Delhi court

Former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar surrenders in Delhi court. The high court had set a deadline of December 31 for Kumar to surrender. He surrendered before Metropolitan Magistrate Aditi Garg, reports PTI.

2:19 pm IST

1984 riots case convict Sajjan Kumar reaches Delhi’s Karkardooma Court to surrender

Convict Sajjan Kumar reaches Delhi’s Karkardooma Court to surrender, reports news agency ANI.

2:05 pm IST

Anti-Sikh riots cases are being investigated separately by CBI and SIT

The anti-Sikh riots cases are being investigated separately by CBI and the SIT. One of the cases the CBI is currently probing has the name of another senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler as an alleged accused.

2:01 pm IST

SIT is investigating three cases in which Kumar is one of the main accused

Set up by the union home ministry to investigate 1984 riots cases, the SIT is investigating three cases in which Kumar is one of the main accused.

1:48 pm IST

Statement of witnesses were recorded by SIT

The statement of the two witnesses, who were contacted for the first time since 1984, were recorded by the SIT after which Sajjan Kumar was interrogated. In these cases, Kumar is currently on anticipatory bail. The SIT has challenged Kumar’s anticipatory bail and approached Supreme Court, which is yet to decide on the matter.

1:46 pm IST

New witnesses had said Sajjan Kumar involved in two other 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases

At least two persons, who have deposed for the first time before the special investigation team (SIT), had confirmed the former Congress leader’s involvement in two incidents of mob violence, a government official privy to the development had said on December 19.

1:34 pm IST

Delhi High Court had slapped a fine of ₹5 lakh on Sajjan Kumar

On December 17, the Delhi High Court had reversed the trial court’s order acquitting Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and had held him guilty of the charges levelled against him. The court had also slapped a fine of ₹5 lakh on Kumar. The case pertained to the murders of five members of a family in the Raj Nagar area Delhi Cantonment area during the 1984 riots.

1:15 pm IST

Khokhar and Yadav were held guilty in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case

Khokhar and Yadav were held guilty in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which ex-Congress leader Sajjan Kumar has to surrender in court.

1:04 pm IST

Kishan Khokhar and Mahender Yadav to serve 10-year jail term

Kishan Khokhar and Mahender Yadav, convicts in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, surrender in Delhi court to serve 10-year jail term, reports PTI.

12:50 pm IST

Both Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar surrender in 1984 riots case

Both Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar have surrendered. The court accepted their surrender application. Mahender Yadav has been allowed to carry his walking stick and spectacles by the court, reports news agency ANI.

12:37 pm IST

Sajjan Kumar’s third reason states he needs time to settle his family affairs

Sajjan Kumar’s third reason states that he needs time to settle his family affairs including affairs with regard to the properties. The application stated that “he would not be in a position to settle them within the short span of time granted by the court”.

12:28 pm IST

Convicts Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar reach Delhi’s Karkardooma Court to surrender

Convicts Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar have reached Delhi’s Karkardooma Court to surrender.

12:27 pm IST

Sajjan Kumar cited another reason stating he believes he is innocent

In the second reason listed in Sajjan Kumar’s application, he states that he is “at present under shock and surprise in view of the order of acquittal having been set aside and conviction” and goes on to say that the “applicant believes he is innocent”.

12:23 pm IST

Sajjan Kumar cited reason for seeking delay in his surrender was he has a big family

Foremost among the reasons stated in Sajjan Kumar’s application seeking a delay in his surrender was the fact that he has eight grandchildren aged between 25 years and five years. The application also states that he has a big family, both from maternal and paternal side.

12:11 pm IST

High Court had on Dec 17 overturned Kumar’s acquittal by a lower court and held him guilty

The Delhi high court had on December17 overturned Sajjan Kumar’s acquittal by a lower court and held him guilty of torching a family of five in west Delhi’s Raj Nagar during the riots in Delhi nearly 34 years ago. Spending some more time with his family — including his eight grandchildren — was Sajjan Kumar’s top reason to request the court to give him some grace period before he starts his jail term.

12:07 pm IST

High Court’s verdict finding him guilty had stunned Sajjan Kumar

In his15-point request filed before the court, Sajjan Kumar mentioned how the high court’s verdict finding him guilty had stunned him and he needed time to prepare for the jail sentence.

11:59 am IST

Victims had already filed a caveat to pre-empt any ex parte hearing in favour of Sajjan Kumar

Senior advocate H S Phoolka, who is representing the victims of the riots cases, said he has been conveyed by the apex court registry that Kumar has filed an appeal against the high court’s judgement. He said the victims had already filed a caveat to pre-empt any ex parte hearing in favour of Kumar.

11:43 pm IST

Sajjan Kumar had approached the SC challenging the high court’s judgment

The former Congress leader had on December 22 approached the Supreme Court challenging the high court’s judgment.

11:34 am IST

High court had on Dec 21 rejected Kumar’s plea seeking extension till Jan 30 to surrender

The high court had on December 21 rejected Kumar’s plea seeking extension till January 30 to surrender. The former Congress leader had sought more time to surrender, saying he had to settle the family affairs related to his children and property and also needs time to file appeal in the Supreme Court against the high court verdict.

11:25 am IST

Case relates to killing of 5 Sikhs in Delhi on November 1-2, 1984

The case in which Kumar was convicted and sentenced related to the killing of five Sikhs in Raj Nagar part-I area in Palam Colony in South West Delhi on November 1-2, 1984 and burning down of a Gurudwara in Raj Nagar part II. The riots had broken out after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 by her two Sikh bodyguards.

11:15 am IST

Sajjan Kumar is likely to surrender before court today

Former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar is likely to surrender before a court here today to undergo life imprisonment awarded to him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case