February 25, 2025: A Delhi court on Tuesday sentenced former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar to life imprisonment for his role in a murder case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The judgment was pronounced by Special Judge Kaveri Baweja for the killing of Jaswant Singh and his son, Tarundeep Singh, on November 1, 1984.

The case, filed by Jaswant Singh's wife, saw the prosecution seeking the death penalty for Kumar. However, the court awarded him life imprisonment, which is the minimum sentence for murder under the law.

Earlier, on February 12, the court had convicted Kumar and directed Tihar Central Jail authorities to conduct his psychiatric and psychological evaluation, as per a Supreme Court directive in cases involving capital punishment. Kumar is currently lodged in Tihar Jail.

The case was initially registered at Punjabi Bagh Police Station but was later taken over by a special investigation team (SIT). The prosecution stated that a violent mob, armed with deadly weapons, engaged in widespread looting, arson, and destruction of Sikh properties following the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. According to the complainant, the mob attacked their house, looted valuables, and set the premises on fire, resulting in the deaths of her husband and son.

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which erupted after the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards, led to the deaths of thousands of Sikhs across the country, with Delhi witnessing some of the worst violence. The conviction and sentencing of Sajjan Kumar mark a significant development in the long-pending cases related to the riots.