Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar Convicted in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Case: Justice After Four Decades

In a landmark judgment, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday convicted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, marking a significant moment in India’s long fight for justice for riot victims. The case pertains to the brutal killing of a father-son duo in Saraswati Vihar on November 1, 1984, during the wave of violence that erupted following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots remain one of India’s darkest chapters, with thousands of Sikhs losing their lives in targeted mob attacks. The prosecution argued that armed mobs engaged in large-scale looting, arson, and destruction of Sikh properties as retribution for Gandhi’s assassination by her Sikh bodyguards. According to case records, Sajjan Kumar not only participated in but actively led a violent mob that targeted the victims.

The court’s ruling stated that there was sufficient evidence to establish that Kumar played a direct role in inciting the violence. “He was not only a participant but had also led the mob,” the court noted in its order, reinforcing previous allegations against the former politician.

The ruling was met with a strong reaction from Sikh organizations and justice advocates. Jagdip Singh Kahlon, General Secretary of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), hailed the conviction as a long-overdue step toward accountability.

“Sajjan Kumar, who led the Sikh massacre 40 years ago, has been convicted, and justice is finally being served. I thank the court, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, for forming the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that reopened these cases. We remain hopeful for justice in the Jagdish Tytler case as well,” Kahlon stated.

Sajjan Kumar’s defense, led by advocate Anil Sharma, argued that his name had not surfaced in the initial investigation. The defense further pointed out that another case, in which Kumar was convicted by the Delhi High Court, was still under appeal before the Supreme Court.

However, the prosecution, represented by Additional Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat, countered that the key witness did not initially know Kumar but later identified him, leading to his implication in the case. Senior advocate H.S. Phoolka, who has long fought for justice for riot victims, highlighted the systemic failure in police investigations and argued that the massacre was not an isolated incident but part of a larger, orchestrated attack on Sikhs.

As per official figures, nearly 2,700 Sikhs were killed in Delhi alone in the 1984 riots.

Sajjan Kumar, once a prominent Congress leader, began his political career as a Municipal Councillor in Delhi in 1977. He later won the 2004 Lok Sabha elections from Outer Delhi. However, his political career was overshadowed by persistent allegations regarding his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

In 2018, Kumar was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in another case linked to the riots, where he was found guilty of inciting mobs to attack Sikhs.

For the victims and their families, the conviction of Sajjan Kumar is a long-overdue victory in their fight for justice. The ruling reaffirms that political influence cannot shield individuals from accountability. However, for many, this is just one step in a larger struggle to ensure that all those responsible for the 1984 carnage are brought to justice.