1984 riot cases: Sajjan Kumar gets anticipatory bail

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was on Friday granted anticipatory bail by Delhi High Court in two 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases.

Earlier on Thursday, Delhi Police suspended a personal security officer of Sajjan Kumar for making a false diary entry on the leader's whereabouts which, police claim, helped Kumar give his escorts the slip and go into hiding on February 19.

On February 23, CBI informed the court that they weren't able to arrest Kumar as he could not be located, prompting the judge to slam the investigating agency for "not being serious'' about apprehending the Congress leader.

The CBI had on January 13 chargesheeted Kumar in two separate cases of allegedly making provocative speeches which led to the killing of 12 persons in 1984 following Indira Gandhi's assassination. The court had issued non-bailable warrants against him.

Police had stationed a PCR van outside Kumar's residence in Madipur. As a Z+ category protectee, around eight-nine police personnel were deputed for his security. His security included an armed guard who was on vigil at his house round-the-clock, a PSO who was supposed to accompany him everywhere and an escort vehicle.

His brother Ramesh Kumar is an MP from South Delhi. "It seems Kumar has gone underground to evade arrest,'' a senior police official said.

An official at the Delhi Police security wing said, "Ever since Sajjan went missing, his entire security staff has been reporting at the security lines in Vinay Marg. There is no one posted at his house or office,'' said a senior police officer. Kumar's lawyer had earlier told the court that he was not running away but was just exploring all statutory remedies available to him by approaching a higher court.

The CBI, which arrested one out of 12 accused, said that it conducted raids at Kumar's residence four times after the warrant was issued on February 17, but failed to apprehend him. It also asked the court to declare the former MP and other accused as absconders.