The 1984 anti-Sikh riots erupted following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. The case is related to a mob of rioters storming the Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in Delhi. Congress leader Mr. Kamal Nath had previously denied the charges.
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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has granted additional time to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to submit its status report on a plea seeking action against senior Congress leader Kamal Nath for his alleged involvement. The plea, filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, accuses Nath of playing a role in the violence that targeted the Sikh community following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, overseeing the proceedings, was informed that the SIT, established by the Union Home Ministry, needed more time to trace relevant records before filing its report. This request for an extension comes after the court’s initial directive on January 27, 2022, which ordered the SIT to furnish a status report on Sirsa’s plea. The matter has now been scheduled for further hearing on April 23.
The case in question revolves around the attack on Gurdwara Rakab Ganj Sahib in New Delhi during the riots, an incident Kamal Nath has consistently denied any involvement in. Sirsa’s petition specifically seeks directions for the SIT to take action against Nath based on an FIR lodged in 1984 at the Parliament Street police station. Although five individuals were named as accused in the case and allegedly found shelter at Kamal Nath’s residence, they were later discharged due to insufficient evidence, with Kamal Nath not being implicated in the FIR.
In September 2019, the SIT decided to reopen seven cases related to the anti-Sikh riots, targeting instances where the accused had been acquitted or the trials had concluded. Sirsa contends that Nath, who also served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, allegedly harbored five individuals accused in one of these cases.
The SIT, formed on February 12, 2015, following the recommendation of the Home Ministry-appointed Justice (Retd.) G.P. Mathur committee, consists of two inspector general-rank IPS officers and a judicial officer. It is tasked with scrutinizing or conducting preliminary inquiries into the discharged cases, which were registered in 1984 at various police stations across Delhi, including Vasant Vihar, Sun Light Colony, Kalyanpuri, Parliament Street, Connaught Place, Patel Nagar, and Shahdara.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a dark chapter in India’s history, erupted in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination, leading to the loss of thousands of Sikh lives. The ongoing legal proceedings and investigations into the riots seek to bring justice to the victims and their families, ensuring accountability for those involved in inciting and participating in the violence.
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As the Delhi High Court awaits the SIT’s comprehensive report, the case against Kamal Nath remains a focal point in the quest to unravel the truth behind the tragic events of 1984.
CASE TITLE:
Manjinder Singh Sirsa v. Union of India & Ors.
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