NEW DELHI—In a shocking move on February 22, a Delhi High Court bench headed by Justice Anu Malhotra quashed the petition moved by Special Investigation Team seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail to one of the 1984 Sikh genocide perpetrators Sajjan Kumar. Quashing of petition by the Delhi High Court has once again brought the Indian judiciary under fire as it is already facing criticism due to the shocking revelations made by Jagdish Tytler.
“The available records indicate that pursuant of the orders (of the trial court), Sajjan Kumar has made himself available for investigation and it has been submitted on his behalf that he shall continue to do so,” the court said in its 132-page order.
“On consideration of the totality of circumstances put forth, it is held that presently there are no grounds made out by the petitioner (SIT) for cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to Kumar on December 21, 2016,” the court added.
The Delhi High Court, however, allowed the SIT’s plea to expunge certain adverse remarks made against it by the trial court in the bail order, saying that the lower court could not have pre-judged the issues involved.
It may be recalled here that Sajjan Kumar was granted bail by the trial court on January 21, 2017 in a case pertaining to killing of two innocent Sikhs namely Sohan Singh and his son-in-law Avtar Singh in Delhi’s Janapuri area during 1984 Sikh genocide. In another case pertaining to burning a Sikh named Gurcharan Singh, Sajjan Kumar was also given interim bail on December 21, 2016. Gurcharan Singh, who was half burnt, had remained bed-ridden for 29 years. He died three years ago.
The Special Investigation Team, appointed by the Union government of India to re-probe 1984 Sikh genocide cases, had challenged the trial court’s decision in Delhi High Court in January last year.
