1984 anti-Sikh riots: SC agrees to consider Sajjan Kumar's bail plea

Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider  bail plea of former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, sentenced for life by Delhi High Court in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took te of submissions of senior advocate Shekhar Naphade that bail plea of Kumar be accorded urgent hearing. "We will see to it," bench said when lawyers for Kumar prayed for urgent listing of bail application. This comes after former Congress leader had moved top court challenging conviction and award of life imprisonment by high court.

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CBI sought dismissal of his bail plea

CBI on March 15 told Supreme Court that Sajjan Kumar's plea challenging life term awarded to him by Delhi High Court in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case should be dismissed. probe ncy in its reply on Sajjan Kumar's plea seeking bail said he has a "large political clout" and is capable of "influencing or terrorising" witnesses in case pending against him. It told apex court said that fair trial in pending case would t be possible if Kumar is granted bail.

READ: 1984 anti-Sikh riots case: CBI seeks dismissal of Sajjan Kumar's plea in Supreme Court

Sajjan Kumar accused in 1984 Anti-Sikh riots

Sajjan Kumar, 73, who is lodged in jail, had resigned from Congress party after he was convicted by high court. case in which he was convicted and sentenced relates to killing of five Sikhs in Delhi Cantonment's Raj Nagar Part-I area of southwest Delhi on vember 1-2 in 1984, and burning down of a Gurudwara in Raj Nagar Part-II. Anti-Sikh riots had broken out after assassination of n prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 by her two Sikh bodyguards. Delhi High Court in its December 17 verdict last year awarded him life imprisonment for "remainder of his natural life" in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. It charged Kumar with offences of criminal conspiracy and abetment in commission of crimes of murder, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of communal harmony and defiling and destruction of a gurudwara.

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