Declaring that the ‘‘prosecution had failed to prove the case’’, a city court today acquitted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar of the charge of leading a mob that killed Sikhs in 1984. This had followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her guards. Additional Sessions Judge Manju Goel, passing orders in two cases filed by Delhi Police and the CBI relating to the 1984 riots, acquitted 16 others along with Kumar for lack of ‘‘evidence’’. She said in her order that ‘‘there was no circumstantial evidence to connect the accused with the offence.’’ The case against Kumar had been lodged on the basis of a complaint by Anwar Kaur, alleging that Kumar had instigated a mob which killed her husband, Nevin Singh, in Sultanpuri on November 1. The case was registered on September 7, 1990 and a chargesheet was filed against the MP from Outer Delhi constituency and 12 others — Nathu Pradhan, Brahmanand Gupta, Udal Singh, Shishram, Jai Bhagwan Gupta, Peera Ram, Hanuman Prasad, Satyaveer Singh, Mahender Singh, Islam, Rajendra Singh and Jai Kishen — on December 22, 1994. Three of the accused — Nathu Pradhan, Islam and Rajendra Singh — died during the trial. The chargesheet stated that Kumar had addressed a meeting at a gurdwara in Sultanpuri ‘‘and by his speech instigated the persons gathered there’’. Kaur had alleged that the mob had proceeded towards their house, beaten her husband, dragged him outside and burnt him after pouring kerosene on him. They also looted their property and set fire to it, it had been alleged. The prosecution had examined 27 witnesses in the case. The judge said in her order that the contradictory statements of Kaur ‘‘destroy’’ the prosecution evidence in the case. When she was examined initially, Kaur had said that Kumar was present in the mob which killed her husband but later, on being cross-examined, she said she had not seen him herself. ‘‘There is no other eyewitness apart from those mentioned,’’ the court said, adding that ‘‘other evidence in the case is poor’’. The court also acquitted Suresh Chand, Zile Singh, Hari Om, Om Prakash, Ganga Ram and Mangal Singh in another case registered by Delhi Police, charging them with the murder of more than 50 Sikhs, rioting, arson and looting in Sultanpuri, one of the areas most affected by the riots. The ‘‘prosecution has failed to prove the ffences and there are material contradictions in statements of the witnesses’’, the order said. Condemning the acquittal, H S Phoolka, counsel for the riot victims at the Nanavati Commission, alleged that ‘‘Delhi Police had come to the rescue of Sajjan Kumar.’’ He stated that the two defence witnesses were investigating officers who had testified that Sajjan Kumar’s name did not come up during the investigation. ‘‘The whole basis of sending the case to the CBI (because Delhi Police was protecting Kumar) stands eroded,’’ he said. As soon as the order was pronounced, Shiromani Akali Dal and Sikh Forum members present in the courtroom said they were ‘‘extremely disappointed’’. When Sajjan Kumar stepped out and tried to avoid speaking to the media, a near-stampede ensued. Kumar ultimately said, ‘‘I had full faith in the judicial system and it has delivered.’’ He declined to comment on his political prospects as he had now been cleared of all charges. Kumar thus stands acquitted in all three cases registered agaisnt him in connection with the riots. He had earlier been acquitted in two of them.
