New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today turned
down a plea of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar that it should not
hear the contention of victim`s family who had filed a
complaint against him for alleged involvement in a 1984
anti-Sikh riots case.
The Congress leader made the submission before a bench
hearing a bunch of appeals filed by CBI and others challenging
his acquittal in a case of allegedly leading a mob that killed
49 Sikhs.
"There is no need to hear the victim`s side after the
State has filed the appeal against the order of the trial
court as the State is the only custodian of law and it would
create confusion if they are allowed to argue in the
case," senior advocate I U Khan, appearing for the leader said.
A bench comprising Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and
Suresh Kait, however, said there is nothing wrong in allowing
the complainants to argue in the case.
"Let them argue. We would not be confused," the bench
said while posting the matter for further hearing on January
16.
The Court was hearing appeals filed in 2003 challenging
the trial court`s verdict acquitting Sajjan Kumar and a former
Congress M.L.A. Jaikishan in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
Acquitting the Congress leader and 10 other
co-accused, the trial court had said the investigating agency
had "miserably" failed to prove the case against them.
Fourteen persons were accused in the case. Three of them
died during the trial.
-PTI
