New Delhi (January 06, 2010): In a newsletter dated 6 January, 2010 sent by Sikhs for Justice, it is informed that the Delhi High Court on Wednesday turned down a plea of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar that a victim’s family, which filed complaints against him for alleged involvement in a 1984 Sikh Carnage case should not be heard.
Sajjan Kumar had made the submission before a bench hearing a bunch of appeals filed by CBI and others challenging his acquittal in a massacre incident in West Delhi.
“There is no need to hear the victim’s side after the State has filed the appeal against the order of the trial court as the State is the only custodian of law and it would create confusion if they are allowed to argue in the case,” senior advocate I. U. Khan, appearing for the leader said.
Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Suresh Kait, however, said there is nothing wrong in allowing the complainants to argue in the case. Anwar Kaur, the widow of one Navin Singh killed in the massacre, a witness Fota Singh and Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee have challenged the acquittal along with the CBI.
“Let them argue. We would not be confused,” the bench said while posting the matter for further hearing on January 16. The Court was hearing appeals filed in 2003 challenging the trial court’s verdict acquitting Sajjan Kumar and a former Congress MLA Jaikishan in a 1984 Sikh Carnage case.
The CBI case was based on the statement filed by Kaur, who had told police that a mob instigated by Sajjan Kumar had killed her husband Navin Singh, in front of her residence at Sultanpuri in West Delhi. It collapsed when she declared in the trial court that she was not sure whether it was Kumar who led the mob.
CBI said the police, which initially handled the case, failed to investigate it properly.
In its appeal, it said Sajjan Kumar’s acquittal came about as the trial court did not evaluate the statements of prosecution witnesses properly.