Apr
5
CBI Appeals Acquittal of Sajjan Kumar, Charged With Murder in November 1984 Pogroms
April 5, 2007 | Comments Off on CBI Appeals Acquittal of Sajjan Kumar, Charged With Murder in November 1984 Pogroms
On March 5th, the Delhi High Court admitted the CBI’s appeal against the acquittal of Congress (I) M.P. Sajjan Kumar and 8 others. Kumar is charged with the murder of Nevin Singh during the 1984 pogroms, as one of the leaders of the death squads in the Sultanpuri neighborhood in Northwest Delhi. As noted in Twenty Years of Impunity, numerous witnesses report Kumar instructing mobs to kill Sikhs during the pogroms.
Senior Advocate S.S. Gandhi appeared on behalf of the CBI to argue the appeal on March 12. His appointment is being contested by leading human rights advocates. According to an open letter signed by these advocates: “Having appeared for the Delhi Police before the Justice Nanavati Commission it is against professional etiquette and ethics for Sr. Advocate S.S.Gandhi to now represent the case of the victims through the State, in the Delhi High Court.” The next hearing of the appeal is scheduled for April 17.
Additionally, on March 29, 2007 an Indian court sentenced three men to life in prison for killing Niranjan Singh during the 1984 pogroms. According to the International Herald Tribune, it is unclear if the three men were linked to the Congress party.
More information on the recent developments of the Sajjan Kumar case can be found from the Times of India and The Hindu.
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