Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delhi court on Tuesday for his role in the killing of a father and son during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. This marks his second life sentence in connection with the riots. The court delivered the verdict after convicting him earlier this month for the murder of Jaswant Singh and his son, Tarundeep Singh, in the Saraswati Vihar area of Delhi on November 1, 1984.

Court Rejects Death Penalty, Terms Case Not "Rarest of Rare”

The prosecution had pushed for the death penalty, arguing that Kumar's actions amounted to "mass genocide" and constituted one of the "rarest of rare" cases. However, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja disagreed and sentenced him to life imprisonment instead.

"The accused being the leader of the mobs instigated others to commit a genocide and crime against humanity and cold-blooded murders, and he deserves nothing less than capital punishment," said senior advocate HS Phoolka, who represented the victims.

Before the verdict, Kumar, who is already serving a life sentence in another anti-Sikh riots case, argued against the death penalty, citing his advanced age and good conduct in prison.

Kumar’s Role in the 1984 Riots and Prior Convictions

The 1984 anti-Sikh riots erupted following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards. Widespread violence led to the deaths of thousands of Sikhs, with political leaders allegedly inciting mobs.

Kumar had previously been convicted by the Delhi High Court in 2018 for the killing of five Sikhs in Delhi Cantonment’s Raj Nagar area on November 1-2, 1984. He was found guilty of conspiracy, murder and rioting, and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Additionally, he was convicted of instigating a mob to burn down a gurdwara in Palam Colony.

The latest conviction stems from a case where Kumar was accused of leading rioters in Saraswati Vihar and ordering the killing of Jaswant Singh and Tarundeep Singh.

Case was reopened decades later

The FIR against Kumar in this case was originally registered in 1991, but due to lack of evidence, the court did not initiate prosecution. However, in 2015, the government established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to reinvestigate the case. Kumar was arrested in 2021 based on new findings, and in February 2025, he was convicted for his role in the father-son murders.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which prosecuted the case, demanded the death penalty. Additional Public Prosecutor Manish Rawat argued that Kumar’s previous conviction proved a pattern of criminal behavior, justifying the need for capital punishment. However, the court opted for life imprisonment instead.

Sikh Community Expresses Discontent, Demands Death Penalty

Following the verdict, members of the Sikh community gathered outside the court, expressing disappointment over the decision to award Kumar a life sentence instead of capital punishment.

“We will not accept anything less than the death penalty. We are not happy with the court's verdict. We will appeal to the government to challenge this ruling in a higher court and push for the death penalty,” Sikh leader Gurlad Singh told reporters.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) General Secretary Jagdip Singh Kahlon echoed similar sentiments. “We are upset that someone like Sajjan Kumar was not given the death penalty. If he had been sentenced to death, we would have felt that justice had been truly served,” he said.

BJP and AAP Demand Further Action

Delhi Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who has been vocal about reopening riot cases, acknowledged the court’s decision but insisted that others involved in the riots, including senior Congress leaders, should also face justice.

“These cases were closed for 35 years, and people like Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler, Kamal Nath roamed freely, serving as chief ministers and MPs… Jagdish Tytler and Kamal Nath are next,” Sirsa said, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for reopening the case.

Thousands Killed, Cases Remain Pending

According to the Nanavati Commission, which was set up to investigate the anti-Sikh riots, more than 2,700 Sikhs were killed in the violence that followed Indira Gandhi’s assassination. Out of 587 FIRs filed, 240 cases were closed by the police as “untraced,” while 250 cases resulted in acquittals. Many victims' families continue to seek justice for their lost loved ones.

Sajjan Kumar’s second life sentence marks another step in the decades-long legal battle to hold perpetrators of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots accountable. However, dissatisfaction among victims' families and Sikh groups indicates that the demand for harsher punishment and justice for others involved in the riots remains strong. Whether the government will appeal for the death penalty or take further action against other accused leaders remains to be seen.