Now Reading: Delhi HC closes Sajjan Kumar’s appeal after his death
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Delhi HC closes Sajjan Kumar’s appeal after his death
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday closed an appeal by former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar challenging his conviction in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots murder case, following his death on August 20. Kumar was serving two life sentences in Tihar jail. "In view thereof, the present appeal would abate," a bench of justices Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan said.
The case related to the killings of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh in Saraswati Vihar on November 1, 1984. Kumar was convicted on February 12, 2025, and sentenced to life imprisonment on February 25, 2025. The trial court had said the killings were not a "rarest of rare case" warranting the death penalty, and imposed a fine of about Rs 2.4 lakh.
Earlier, the Delhi High Court had sentenced Kumar to life imprisonment in December 2018 in another case related to the killing of five Sikhs and the burning of a gurdwara during the riots.
Indian Opinion Analysis
All three sources reported the abatement of the appeal as a routine legal development, without any editorial framing. The Hindu and Deccan Chronicle closely mirrored each other, while Times of India led with the court's procedural action. None emphasised Kumar's political background or criticised the justice system. The uniform straight reporting means the story carries no interpretative angle. The legal consequence is final: the conviction stands, and no further appeal is possible.
Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral
Sources (3): thehindu.com (neutral report), deccanchronicle.com (neutral report), timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
