New Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued notice on an appeal challenging the acquittal of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in a case linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

A division bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Madhu Jain sought a response from Kumar and scheduled the matter for hearing on September 29.

The appeal was filed by riot victim Manjit Singh against a January 22, 2026 trial court order acquitting Kumar in cases registered at the Janakpuri and Vikaspuri police stations. Advocates Kamna Vohra, Gurbaksh Singh and Surpreet Kaur appeared for the appellant.

The Rouse Avenue Court had acquitted Kumar, observing that there was insufficient credible evidence to establish his presence at the crime scene or his participation in an unlawful assembly during the riots.

In the appeal, the complainant argued that the trial court failed to properly appreciate testimonies of witnesses, including Harjeet Kaur and Tejinder Singh, who allegedly corroborated Kumar’s presence at the spot. The plea also contended that ocular and circumstantial evidence established Kumar’s role in the killings of Gurcharan Singh, Sohan Singh and Avtar Singh, and that the trial court wrongly granted him the benefit of doubt.

The appellant further alleged that Kumar, being an influential political leader at the time, misused state machinery and obstructed the legal process, making it difficult for witnesses to come forward.

Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh, while acquitting Kumar earlier this year, had held that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The court said there was no reliable evidence linking Kumar to instigation, conspiracy or participation in the unlawful assembly.

The case pertains to incidents of arson, looting and killings that took place in the aftermath of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination on October 31, 1984.

Kumar was charge-sheeted in 2022 under various IPC provisions, including rioting, promoting enmity, attempt to murder, dacoity and criminal conspiracy. However, the trial court had discharged him from murder charges in one of the connected FIRs.

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During earlier proceedings, Kumar had denied all allegations and claimed he was falsely implicated and not present at the site of the violence.