1984 riots: Supreme Court to hear Sajjan Kumar and Balwan Khokhar’s appeals in July
New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear in July a series of petitions filed by former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and former party councillor Balwan Khokhar, challenging their convictions in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases.
A bench comprising Justices J K Maheshwari and Arvind Kumar stated that if the final hearing does not proceed as scheduled, the petitioners may appeal for suspension of their sentences.
The apex court has summoned records from the trial court, which will be shared with all parties involved. In July 2024, the Supreme Court sought the CBI’s response to Khokhar’s plea for relief.
Sajjan Kumar was accused of killing five Sikhs in Raj Nagar Part I, Palam Colony, on November 1-2, 1984, and burning a gurdwara in Raj Nagar Part II. The Delhi High Court upheld Khokhar’s life sentence in 2018, while the trial court in 2013 overturned Kumar’s earlier acquittal.
Khokhar’s petition noted that jail authorities dismissed his plea for release on September 26, 2024, citing concerns over societal peace and tranquility.