New Delhi, India (July 09, 2013): It is learnt that on July 08, 2013 the Delhi high court sought the response of CBI and the two persons, who were sentenced to three years in jail Delhi Cantonment Area massacre 1984 case, on the plea of victims’ families challenging the trial court verdict acquitting Congress leader Sajjan Kumar.
Sajjan Kumar – Indian politician – accused of orchestrating the genocidal violence against Sikhs in November 1984.
According to Times of India (TOI): “[a] bench of justices G. S. Sistani and G. P. Mittal sought CBI’s response by August 27 on the appeal of Jagdish Kaur and Nirpreet Kaur who have challenged the trial court’s April 30 order acquitting ex-MLA Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokkar from the charges of murder”.
Congress leader Sajjan Kumar’s acquittal in this case has also been challenged in the high court by the victims which is likely to come up for hearing on July 10, 2013.
The bench also issued notice to the agency on another plea by the victims who are also seeking enhancement of the life sentence, awarded to Balwan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal, to death penalty for the charge of murder.
The bench also called for the trial court record in the case on the next date of hearing.
It is notable that the trial court had acquitted Sajjan Kumar on April 30, 2013 a former Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi, but convicted five others — Balwan Khokkar, an ex-councillor, Mahender Yadav, an ex-MLA, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal — for their involvement in the case.
While Balwan Khokkar, Lal and Bhagmal were convicted for murder and rioting and awarded life term, Yadav and Kishan Khokkar were convicted only for rioting and handed down three years’ jail term.
It is notable that Delhi Cantonment Area massacre 1984 was part of Sikh Genocide 1984.