'84 anti-Sikh riots case: Court to pronounce verdict on Apr 30

New Delhi, Apr 16: A Delhi

on Monday fixed April 30 for pronouncing its judgement in a 1984 anti-Sikh

case in which Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and five others are accused. District Judge J R Aryan said he required no clarification from the counsel for CBI and the accused.

"Come on April 30 for judgement," the judge said right after taking his seat in the court room. The court had earlier fixed the matter to today for any clarification that it might require in the case. Kumar is facing trial along with five others -- Balwan Khokkar, Kishan Khokkar, Mahender Yadav, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal -- for allegedly conspiring and inciting a mob against the Sikh community in Delhi Cantonment area here.

The case relates to anti-Sikh riots that had broken out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. The case against Kumar was registered in 2005 on a recommendation by Justice G T Nanavati Commission. CBI had filed two charge sheets against him and the other accused in January 2010.

The trial court had framed charges against Kumar and the five others under Sections 302 (murder), 395 (dacoity), 427 (mischief to cause damage to property), 153-A (promoting enmity between different communities), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and other provisions of the IPC. The minimum punishment under Section 302 IPC is life imprisonment and the maximum in death penalty.

PTI