1984 anti-Sikh riots: No ground for granting relief to Sajjan Kumar, says High Court

A Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed Sajjan Kumar's plea seeking more time to surrender which he filed yesterday. He is sentenced to life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

According to a report by PTI, the court dismissed the plea saying that it sees no ground for granting relief to Sajjan Kumar to surrender.

The former senior leader of Congress party, Sajjan Kumar approached the Delhi High Court to extend his surrender time till January 30. He sought more time saying that he has to settle family affairs relating to children and property.

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In his plea, Kumar has also said that he has the statutory right to file an appeal against the high court verdict for which he needs to engage senior advocates who are presently out of India on holiday as the Supreme Court is on vacations.

On Monday, the high court directed Sajjan Kumar to surrender before authorities by December 31.

The case relates to the killing of five Sikhs in Raj Nagar part-I area in Palam Colony in South West Delhi on November 1-2, 1984, and burning down of a Gurudwara in Raj Nagar part II during that period.

Kumar was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for "remainder of his natural life" in the case by the high court on December 17 which had said the riots were a "crime against humanity" perpetrated by those who enjoyed "political patronage" and aided by an "indifferent" law enforcement agency.

On Thursday, he also appeared before Patiala House Court amid tight security in another 1984 riots case for trial. The court adjourned the matter for January 22 after his main counsel was unavailable.

The riots had broken out after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her two Sikh bodyguards.