HC suspends Sajjan Kumar trial in 1984 riots case

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday suspended proceedings against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Justice Siddharth Mridul put on hold the proceedings after victims of the alleged incident filed a plea for transfer of the case from District and Sessions Judge Kamlesh Kumar to any other competent court. It issued <g data-gr-id="24">notice</g> to Sajjan Kumar and the Central Bureau of Investigation to file replies on the victims’ plea.

The court was hearing a plea filed by complainant Joginder Singh and prosecution witness Sheela Kaur, seeking <g data-gr-id="18">tranfer</g> of the matter.

The victim’s counsel H.S. Phoolka said trial court judge Kamlesh Kumar on September 10 did not record the statement of witness Kaur in a “correct sense”.

Phoolka apprised the court that many times the special public prosecutor raised objections to what was being recorded, saying it was not the correct version of what was stated by the witness.

He said the transfer of the case was imperative for meeting the ends of justice and a fair and impartial trial cannot be held in such circumstances.

“In view of the above and in terms of the dictum that justice should not only be done but should be seen to be done, it would be just necessary and expedient to stay the trial in sessions case titled ‘CBI vs. Sajjan Kumar and others’ pending before the sessions court, Karkardooma courts, Delhi, till the next date of hearing,” Justice Mridul said.