In a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, the prosecution has demanded the death penalty, labeling the case as “rarest of rare.” The call for the capital punishment was presented before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja on Tuesday in a written submission in connection with a murder case stemming from the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The case under scrutiny involves the tragic killing of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984, amid the chaos following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Initially handled by the Punjabi Bagh Police Station, the investigation was later escalated to a special investigation team due to the complexity and sensitivity of the case.
On December 16, 2021, the court had framed charges against Kumar, finding substantial evidence for a “prima facie” case. The prosecution’s narrative describes a horrifying scene where a large mob, allegedly incited by Kumar and armed with deadly weapons, engaged in looting, arson, and widespread destruction of Sikh-owned properties.
During the tumultuous period, the mob violently attacked the residence of Jaswant Singh’s wife, not only looting valuables but also setting the house on fire and killing the men present. The prosecution argues that these acts of violence were part of a larger retaliatory wave against the Sikh community, following Indira Gandhi’s death.
The seriousness of these allegations is underscored by historical data from the Nanavati Commission, which was set up to investigate the riots. According to the commission’s findings, out of 587 First Information Reports (FIRs) filed in Delhi in relation to the riots, only 28 resulted in convictions, highlighting a dire lack of accountability.
Sajjan Kumar, who was a prominent political figure during the riots, is already serving a life sentence for his role in the killings of five individuals in Delhi’s Palam Colony during the same period. His current appeal against the life sentence is pending before the Supreme Court.
The hearing for the death penalty has been deferred to February 21, following a request from Kumar’s counsel for additional time due to a lawyers’ strike protesting the Advocate Amendment Bill, 2025. Complainant’s counsel, senior advocate H S Phoolka, supports the prosecution’s push for the death penalty and has also requested time to present arguments.
