1984 anti-Sikh riots: High court rejects Sajjan Kumar's anticipatory bail plea

New Delhi, Feb 17 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to grant anticipatory bail to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Justice S L Bhayana passed the verdict after hearing arguments from both sides.

Sajjan Kumar had moved the Delhi High Court on Tuesday seeking anticipatory bail in two separate 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases.

The bail application was listed for hearing before Justice Madan B. Lokur, who adjourned it to Wednesday, rejecting Kumar's plea for taking it up for hearing right away as there was urgency in it.

Kumar's hearing will also being heard in the Karkardooma court today as he was to appear before an Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) on summons issued by the court on February 1 after taking cognisance of the charge-sheets in the two cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

There are reports that he may be arrested if he does not appear in the Karkardooma court today.

Kumar sought bail submitting that he had earlier been granted anticipatory bail in other anti-Sikh riots cases by the trial court.

Further, there had never been allegation against him of influencing investigations in the matter. Rather, he had cooperated with the investigating agency, he submitted.

A Special Judge for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases had on Monday refused to grant him anticipatory bail saying that the allegations against him on face value did not appear to be completely false.

The CBI had on January 13 charge-sheeted Kumar and others in the two cases accusing them of making provocative speeches, leading to the killing of 12 persons in the riots that followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984.

The two cases were registered at Sultanpuri and Delhi Cantonment police stations on the recommendations of Nanavati Commission in 2005.

The CBI charge sheeted Kumar and others under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 302, 153-A and 120-B.

On December 31, 2009, Delhi Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna gave the go -ahead to the CBI to prosecute Kumar. (ANI)