Delhi High Court grants Sajjan Kumar permission to present his case

New Delhi, Aug 3 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday granted permission to the 1984 Sikh riots accused and former Congressman, Sajjan Kumar, to confront complainants who had filed affidavits before the G.T. Nanavati and Ranganath Mishra Commissions of Inquiry.

Interacting with reporters here, Kumar's counsel, Anil Kumar Sharma stressed that he needs a chance to present counter-arguments in Kumar's case.

"The complainants went before the G.T. Nanavati and Ranganath Mishra Commissions of Inquiry and gave affidavits, and based on that the case was proceeding. Earlier they had not named anyone and after a gap of 20 years they named our client. The argument was on this issue and the CBI was running everywhere carrying their documents. They have also sent us copies and we cannot be remediless, we need the authority to present our case. We should be allowed to counter question as well," Sharma told reporters.

Earlier on June 2, a lower court here had dismissed Kumar's plea.

One of the prosecutors in the case, R.S. Cheema, had said in 2010 that the statements and affidavits could not be used in the trial since they were contradictory.

Sajjan Kumar had specifically made his plea with respect to complainant Jagdish Kumar.

Counsel for the defence, Devinder Pal Singh, told reporters that the defence had asked for the case to be expedited as quickly as possible.

Sajjan Kumar and five others are facing trial for allegedly instigating rioters during the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi in 1984 after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Around 3,000 people, mostly Sikhs were killed in the riots, sparked off after two Sikh bodyguards of Prime Minister gunned down Indira Gandhi. (ANI)