Delhi HC reserves verdict on appeals challenging 1984 anti-Sikh riots case

The Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its verdict on the appeals challenging the trial court's judgement in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in which Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was acquitted.

A bench of justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel concluded hearing arguments on the appeals filed by the CBI, riots victims and the convicts and asked the parties to file written submissions, if any, by November 22.

Former Congress Councillor Balwan Khokhar, a retired naval officer Captain Bhagmal, Girdhari Lal and two others were held guilty in the case relating to the murder of five members of a family in Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantonment on November 1, 1984, after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The trial court had acquitted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in the case but awarded life term to Khokhar, Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal and a three-year jail term to two others - former MLA Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar.

They had challenged their conviction and sentencing by the trial court in May 2013.

The CBI has also filed an appeal, alleging they were engaged in "a planned communal riot" and "religious cleansing". The CBI and the victims have also appealed against the acquittal of Kumar.

The high court had on March 29 last year issued show cause notices to 11 accused including Khokhar and Yadav in five 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases which were earlier closed. The matter is being heard by another division bench.

The accused, who was acquitted of the charges, were asked as to why should the court not order reinvestigation and retrial against them as they faced allegations of "horrifying crimes against humanity".

(With inputs from agencies.)