New Delhi: A trial court yesterday (Feb. 20) rejected pleas of three accused facing trial in a November 1984 Sikh genocide related case. The plea sought transfer of their case from the Karkardooma district court to Rohini on grounds of jurisdiction.
Brahmanand Gupta, Peeriya and Ved Prakash are facing trial on charges of rioting, and the murder of one Surjit Singh, a resident of Sultanpuri area of west Delhi. Congress leader Sajjan Kumar is also an accused in the case. It may be recalled that India has not recognized “genocide” as a statutory offense, the culprits are facing trial under ordinary criminal charges.
Sajjan Kumar – Indian politician who is facing murder charges in an incident related to Sikh Genocide 1984 [File Photo]
District judge Rakesh Siddhartha dismissed the plea saying a detailed order would follow.
The defence counsel had contended that the case be transferred to Rohini since the incident allegedly occurred in Sultanpuri area which does not fall under the jurisdiction of Karkardooma district court.
The CBI prosecutor had, however, opposed the plea saying that according to provisions of CrPC, only HC is authorized to transfer a case from one district to another.
He had submitted that a similar riots case, also involving Sajjan Kumar and others, was earlier decided by the same court and the accused had not raised the transfer issue then, thus showing “malafide intention and malice” on their part.