English
New Delhi: Former Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, convicted in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, surrendered in Karkardooma court on Monday. Former MLAs Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokhar, both convicted along with Kumar, had surrendered earlier in the day. The court accepted their surrender application and allowed Yadav to carry his walking stick and spectacles. They were convicted in the case in which 73-year-old Kumar was sentenced to life for the “remainder of his natural life” by the Delhi High Court on December 17.
After the surrender, Kumar’s lawyer said, “The court has sent him to Mandoli Jail. Court has also ordered that a separate van would be provided for his movement due to security.”
On December 22, Kumar had filed an appeal in the apex court, after the high court dismissed his plea seeking more time to surrender. The court, while awarding him a life sentence, had directed him to surrender by December 31 and also levied a fine of Rs 5 lakh on him. In his plea, he had sought 30 additional days to surrender, on account of settling family affairs with regard to property and inheritance.
Meanwhile, Senior advocate HS Phoolka (who is representing the riots victims), has appealed to the victims of the riot to not go to the court on Monday. “It is apprehended that Sajjan Kumar might try to create disturbances around the court on Monday, to use as an excuse not to surrender and ask for an extension. I request 1984 Sikh genocide victims not to go to the court. He has not got any relief from the Supreme Court. So, he has to surrender,” Phoolka said in a statement.
Earlier, Kumar’s counsel said they had removed the objections in their appeal filed in the apex court but since the court was on vacation till January 1, it was not likely to be taken up for hearing so they had run out of options.
The Supreme Court will open on January 2 after the winter break. “We have removed the objections and the appeal in the apex court has been numbered. Presently, there are no benches in the Supreme Court. Even if we mention the matter for urgent hearing, the registrar will decide whether it will be heard by the bench. No time is left now,” the counsel said.
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