Court stays order to lodge FIR in 1984 anti-Sikh riot case

NEW DELHI: A city court today stayed an order of a magisterial court directing lodging of an FIR to probe the cause of death of two persons during the 1984 anti- Sikh riot.

Special Judge Pitamber Dutt stayed till February 7, the operation of magisterial court's January 23 order, on a revision petition filed by the police, saying a proper hearing is required in the case. He issued notice to the man on whose plea the trial court had passed the order for lodging an FIR.

The police challenged Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate ( ACMM) Sudhanshu Kaushik's order directing the concerned SHO to carry out thorough investigation after registration of FIR and furnish compliance report in 48 hours.

The magisterial court's order had come on a criminal complaint filed by Amrik Singh, a resident of Tilak Nagar in West Delhi, seeking lodging of FIR against then DCP of Delhi Police Amod Kanth and former ACP S S Menon.

Singh, who lost two of his family members during the riots, alleged that the two senior police officers violated the constitutional right of the complainant and his family and misused the power conferred on them.

"... in gross violation of law, arrested innocent citizens including women and minor children and subjected them to utmost curelty," the complaint said.

The ACMM said "investigation needs to be carried out to collect evidence and find out the cause of death of Amir Singh and Narender Singh. The grievance of complainant and his family members needs to be redressed."

"It is clarified that the limited purpose of ordering the investigation is to find out the cause of death of Amir Singh and Narender Singh in the light of allegations levelled by the complainant," it clarified.