A Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment in a murder case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja had pronounced the verdict in the case of the alleged murder of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984. The complainant Jaswant’s wife and the prosecution had sought the death penalty for Sajjan Kumar. The maximum sentence in the murder case was death, while the minimum sentence was life imprisonment. It is noteworthy that the court had convicted Sajjan Kumar for the crime on February 12. It is noteworthy that Sajjan Kumar is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.
At the time of this incident i.e. on November 1, 1984, witness number-11 was about 14 years old and she was a student of class 10. The incident of burning his father and brother alive can never fade from the memories of a 14-year-old child. The court sees no reason to reject his testimony.”
This decision was pronounced by the court of Additional Sessions Judge and Special Judge Kaveri Baweja in the Rouse Avenue Court. Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh were among the thousands of Sikhs killed in the Sikh massacre in Delhi after the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This area came under the jurisdiction of Saraswati Vihar police station. Sajjan Kumar was accused of leading a mob during this violence. He is currently serving a life sentence in a case and is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar Jail.
Senior advocate HS Phoolka says that the wife of deceased Jaswant Singh had written in an affidavit in 1985 itself that the mob was led by Sajjan Kumar. The victims’ advocate HS Phoolka says that on November 1, 1984, Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh were burnt alive in West Delhi. Phoolka says, “Both were murdered and burnt alive. Their house was looted. Jaswant Singh’s wife, daughter and nieces were also beaten up by the mob. This mob was led by Sajjan Kumar.”
In the records of this case, Jaswant Singh’s daughter is victim ‘Y’ and witness number 11. According to the record, he alleged that at around 4-4.30 pm in the evening, the mob came once again and attacked his house from the front and back. He further states that as he saw a crowd of thousands of goons outside who were carrying bricks, sticks and iron rods. The mob started beating him and he was attacked on the head with a brick.
The deceased’s wife had approached Justice J.D. Jain and Justice D.K. A statement was recorded on November 6, 1991, by the committee formed by Agarwal that they had later seen the picture of the accused in a magazine and had identified the person who had incited the mob. Senior lawyer HS Phoolka says that Jaswant Singh’s wife had written in an affidavit in 1985 itself that the mob was led by Sajjan Kumar but no case was registered against him. HS Phoolka says, “After that, they wrote letters to the Lieutenant Governor. At that time, Justice Jain and the Agarwal committee recommended that a case be registered. After which a case was registered in 1991.” The family’s statements were also recorded but the police closed the case. According to Phoolka, “When the NDA government came to power in 2014, we demanded that the cases which were closed by the police and not taken to court, be re-investigated. The government formed a committee of retired Supreme Court judge GP Mathur. This committee reported that the cases were wrongly closed, evidence is available and they should be re-investigated.”
After this, the government formed an SIT in the year 2015, which reopened the case. Phoolka says, “A chargesheet was filed in this case, on which the decision was made on February 12 and Sajjan Kumar was found guilty on the basis of the statements of the witnesses.”
According to Advocate Phoolka, the family members of the deceased were initially not ready to come forward considering their lives in danger, but then they appeared before the court. The identities of the witnesses were kept secret.
The case started on May 5, 2021 in the Rouse Avenue court and on February 12, 2025, the court found Sajjan Kumar guilty. During this case, the victim witnesses had stated that their lives were in danger. The wife, daughter and niece of the deceased Jaswant Singh are witnesses in this case. Their lawyer HS Phoolka says, “The family was very scared and nervous. They had earlier said that they did not want to come forward, but special orders were taken from the court that their identity should be kept secret. After the court orders, the family came and gave their statements.”
Although Sajjan Kumar had pleaded innocence in the court and denied committing any crime.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer HS Phoolka says, “Most of the cases are now over. However, one more case is pending against Sajjan Kumar. A case of the murder of three Sikhs is going on against Jagdish Tytler. Three more cases are going on in the trial court. Along with this, some appeals are pending in the High Court and the Supreme Court.”
