A Delhi court on Wednesday held former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar guilty of murder in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case in connection with the murder of two persons in Saraswati Vihar area of the national capital.

Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, who had on February 7 deferred the pronouncement of the verdict till today – posted the matter for hearing arguments on quantum of punishment to be awarded to the convict on February 18.

Kumar (79) is already serving life imprisonment in another anti-Sikh riots related case.

After hearing additional submissions made by Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat, Special judge Baweja had on January 31 reserved the verdict.

Earlier, the prosecution had sought time to further argue on certain points raised by the defence counsel on January 8. Kumar is currently serving life imprisonment in Tihar Jail in another anti-Sikh riots case.

The case relates to the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984. Punjabi Bagh police station registered the case and the probe was subsequently taken over by a special investigation team.

On December 16, 2021, the court framed charges against Kumar, finding a “prima facie” case against him.

According to the prosecution, a huge mob, armed with deadly weapons, resorted to large-scale looting, arson and destruction of properties of Sikhs to avenge the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

The mob attacked the house of the complainant, Jaswant’s wife, killing her husband and son apart from looting articles and setting their house ablaze, alleged the prosecution.

Putting Kumar on trial, the court order found sufficient material to form a “prima facie opinion that he was not only a participant, but had also led the mob”.

Around 3,000 people, mostly Sikhs, were killed in the anti-Sikh riots that broke out following the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her two Sikh bodyguards.

Kumar has been in jail since December 31, 2018 when he surrendered after being convicted and awarded life imprisonment by the Delhi High Court in another case relating to 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Raj Nagar part-I area in Palam Colony in South West Delhi in which five Sikhs were killed on November 1-2, 1984, and a Gurudwara was burnt down in Raj Nagar part II. The Supreme Court has refused to grant him bail.