A Delhi High Court judge on Monday recused himself from hearing a plea seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted by the trial court to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
Justice AK Pathak listed the petition moved by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the killing of three Sikhs, to another Bench. "Not before me. List it before another Bench on July 13," the judge said.
The SIT has sought cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to Kumar by the trial court on December 21 last year in a case of killing of three Sikhs.
While granting relief to the former MP on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and an equal sum as surety, the trial court asked him not to leave the country without permission and to cooperate in the probe.
The court was informed that the cases filed against Kumar falling under the jurisdiction of Janakpuri and Vikaspuri police stations in west Delhi, were lodged after delay of over 30 years as the complainant was "scared" to name the accused due to his "powerful" position.
The agency had said that they needed him for questioning, because a complainant, Harvinder Singh, claimed that Kumar was seen leading a mob during anti-Sikh riots in November 1984. The case deals with two instances of mob violence against Sikhs — one in which two people, Sohan Singh, and his son-in-law Avtar Singh, were killed, and another in which another man, Gurcharan Singh, who was set afire on November 2, 1984. The fire caused Gurcharan Singh to remain bed-ridden for 29 years. He finally died three years ago.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had instituted a Special Investigation Team in February 2015 to re-investigate the riots cases.
