Delhi: A Delhi court on Thursday acquitted former Congress parliamentarian Sajjan Kumar in a case connected to alleged violence in the Janakpuri and Vikaspuri localities during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The ruling marks a significant development in one of the many cases that have lingered for decades in the aftermath of the violence that followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The verdict was delivered by Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh, who announced the decision in court through a brief oral order. The detailed reasoning behind the acquittal is expected to be released later.
The case centered on allegations that Kumar had instigated mobs and contributed to unrest in parts of West Delhi during the riots. However, the court concluded that the prosecution had failed to establish charges that would warrant his conviction in this matter.
Previously, in August 2023, the court had framed charges against Kumar for offences related to rioting and promoting communal discord. At the same time, he had been cleared of more serious allegations, including murder and criminal conspiracy, in this particular case.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots remain one of the darkest chapters in India’s post-independence history, with numerous cases still being examined by courts decades later. While Sajjan Kumar has faced multiple prosecutions over the years in connection with the violence, Thursday’s order brings closure to the Janakpuri–Vikaspuri case, pending the release of the court’s detailed judgment.
