A Delhi court on Saturday ordered framing of charges against senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and seven others for allegedly killing five people during a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
After finding “prima facie” evidence against Kumar, additional sessions judge (ASJ) Sunita Gupta allowed the CBI’s plea seeking prosecution against the 62-year-old Congress leader. The court will now hear the matter on May 18 when it will formally frame charges against the former Outer Delhi MP under Sections 302 (murder), 395 (dacoity), 427 (mischief to property), 153-A (promoting enmity between different communities) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
As per the CBI, Kumar, Khushal Singh, Girdhari Lal, Balwan Khokhar, Mahender Yadav, Maha Singh, Capt. Bhagmal, Santosh Rani and Krishna Khokhar were named as accused in the murder of five people in Delhi Cantonment area in the riots. The framing of charges will pave the way for trial in the case.
The Delhi high court had earlier issued direction to all the district courts to complete the trial within six months of cases relating to anti-Sikh riots.