SC rejects 1984 riots convict Sajjan Kumar's plea seeking interim bail on health ground

The Supreme Court, on Friday, turned down a bail plea of former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar who is undergoing life imprisonment in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde observed that 'it is not a small case'. Sajjan had moved the apex court seeking bail on medical grounds. The Supreme Court clarified that Kumar’s appeal challenging the High Court’s order will be heard when the Supreme Court reopens for physical hearing.

Kumar had moved the Supreme Court in May on similar grounds seeking bail on medical grounds. The same was also turned down by the apex court in May. The Delhi High Court, in December 2018, had upheld life sentence awarded to Kumar by a trial court in 2017 for murder. The riots broke out immediately after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 by her two Sikh bodyguards.

The case related to the killing of five Sikhs at Raj Nagar Part-l in Delhi cantonment on November 1 and 2, 1984 and the burning of a Gurdwara at Raj Nagar Part-II. Upholding Kumar’s life imprisonment, the Delhi High Court had clarified that Kumar's imprisonment will be for the remainder of his life. Kumar’s appeal against the Delhi High Court’s decision is yet to come up for hearing in the Apex Court.