Mugdha Das

1984 Riots case: Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar Gets Life Imprisonment

Digital Desk: In a murder case involving the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment.

Special judge Kaveri Baweja handed down the verdict in the alleged murder of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984.

The death penalty for Kumar was asked for by both the complainant, Jaswant's wife, and the prosecution.

The maximum punishment for murder is the death penalty, with a minimum term of life imprisonment.

On February 12, the court convicted Kumar of the offence and requested a report from Tihar Central Jail on his psychiatric and psychological evaluation in response to a Supreme Court ruling requiring such a report in instances involving capital sentences.

Kumar is currently detained in Tihar Jail.

Though the case was recorded with the Punjabi Bagh Police Station, it was not until much later that a special investigation team took over.

The prosecution claimed that in order to avenge former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's killing, a massive mob armed with lethal weapons engaged in large-scale looting, burning, and destruction of Sikh properties.

According to the prosecution, the mob attacked the complainant's (Jaswant's wife) home, killing the men in addition to stealing items and setting their home on fire.