Demand for Death Penalty in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Case

The prosecution seeks the death penalty for former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots murder case. The crime was notoriously brutal, targeting a specific community, and is argued to be 'rarest of rare.' The court deferred further arguments to February 21.

On Tuesday, the prosecution demanded a death penalty for former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in connection with a murder case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, arguing that the crime was executed in a 'brutal and diabolical manner.'

Arguing that the case is 'graver than the Nirbhaya case,' the prosecution submitted written documents ahead of a hearing before special judge Kaveri Baweja. It highlighted that while Nirbhaya involved a young woman's assault, this case involved an unprovoked attack on a particular community.

The court deferred the proceedings till February 21 following a request by Kumar's counsel for more time to argue the case, citing absenteeism by lawyers protesting against the Advocate Amendment Bill, 2025. Senior advocate H S Phoolka, representing the complainant, backed the prosecution's demand for the death penalty.