Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday acquitted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case linked to violence in Janakpuri and Vikaspuri.
Delhi Court Acquits Sajjan Kumar in High-Profile 1984 Riots Case
New Delhi: Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court has acquitted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in the Janakpuri and Vikaspuri violence case during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Special Judge Digvijay Singh delivered the verdict on Thursday. Two people were killed in the case. The case relates to two FIRs registered by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in February 2015.
The first FIR against Sajjan Kumar related to the murder of Sohan Singh and Avtar Singh on November 1, 1984. The second FIR related to the burning alive of Sardar Gurcharan Singh on November 2, 1984. Sajjan Kumar was facing trial as the main accused in both cases. The SIT reopened the case in 2015 and began investigating.
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In court, Sajjan Kumar pleaded not guilty and said there was no concrete evidence against him. He alleged that the investigating agency did not conduct a fair investigation and that he was deliberately dragged into the case. While recording his statement in court in July 2025, he clearly stated that he was never involved in the riots. He stated that he never imagined participating in the violence even in his wildest dreams.
The court completed the hearing in December 2025 and reserved its verdict. In the verdict delivered on Thursday, the court acquitted Sajjan Kumar on both counts. The court found that there was insufficient evidence to convict him.
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During the 1984 riots, widespread violence spread across Delhi, resulting in the deaths of several members of the Sikh community. Two individuals lost their lives in the violence in the Janakpuri and Vikaspuri areas. The SIT reopened the case in 2015 and filed an FIR against Sajjan Kumar and other accused leaders.
Sajjan Kumar's acquittal marks a major turning point in the cases related to the 1984 riots. The verdict has become a subject of controversy and media discussion, as the case had been a judicial process for years and the victim's families were sensitive about it.
