Sajjan Kumar moves SC against conviction

Former Delhi Congress MP Sajjan Kumar on Saturday approached the Supreme Court challenging his conviction and sentence of jail till the remainder of his life in a case of the killing of five persons here in 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The Delhi High Court had on Monday found Kumar guilty for criminal conspiracy of murder and giving provocative speeches and held the mass killings in Delhi and elsewhere in November 1984 were in fact crimes against humanity. It also noted those responsible for the mass crimes enjoyed political patronage and managed to evade prosecution and punishment with the facilitation of law enforcement agencies.

The HC told Kumar to surrender by December 31 to serve the prison term.

Within days, 73-year-old Kumar filed the appeal against the judgement, that had overturned his acquittal by a Delhi court in 2013.

According to riots victims' counsel senior advocate H S Phoolka, he has been informed by the apex court registry that an appeal has been filed by Kumar in the case.

Jagdish Kaur, a key witness in the case, has already the Supreme Court with a caveat urging the court to hear her before granting any relief to Kumar.

Kumar's appeal comes after the Delhi High Court had on December 20 dismissed his plea for an additional 30 days time to surrender. He had requested for additional time till January 30 for settling his family affairs and filing an appeal before the top court.

After the high court's judgement, he had resigned from primary membership of Congress party.