"Not the rarest of rare": Court rejects death penalty plea, awards two life sentences to Sajjan Kumar in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case

New Delhi [India], February 25 (ANI): Delhi's Rouse Avenue court on Tuesday sentenced former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar to two life terms in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, rejecting a plea for the death penalty.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja said that the case is not the "rarest of rare" and is not fit for capital punishment.
The court considered a report from jail authorities citing Kumar's good conduct and noted that he is suffering from multiple ailments.
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja rejected the plea praying for the death sentence for Sajjan Kumar in view of his age, ailments and other mitigating factors.
"At the same time, there are certain mitigating factors which, in my opinion, weigh in favour of imposing a lesser sentence instead of the death penalty. The 'satisfactory' conduct of the Convict as per the report of the Jail authorities, the ailments from which he is reportedly suffering, the fact that the Convict has roots in society, and the possibility of his reformation and rehabilitation are material considerations which, in my opinion, tilt the scales in favour of sentence for life imprisonment instead of the death penalty," Special Judge Baweja held in the order of sentence.
This case pertains to the killing of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh on November 1, 1984.
The court has sentenced Sajjan Kumar to 2 years and fined Rs. 5000 for the offence of Rioting (Section 147 IPC), 3 years imprisonment and Rs. 5000 for the offence of rioting with a deadly weapon (Section 148 IPC).
He has been sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh under Section 302, read with Section 149 of the IPC.
He has been sentenced to 7 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10000 for an attempt to commit culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 308 read with Section 149 (Unlawful Assembly) IPC).
He is further sentenced to 1-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1000 for causing hurt (Section 323 read with Section 149 IPC).
He has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10000 for an offence of dacoity (Section 395 read with Section 149 IPC) and 7 years imprisonment under Section 397.
He has been further sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 5000 for mischief by fire under Section 427 read with Section 149 IPC.
He has been sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh for destruction of property by fire under Section 436 read with Section 149 IPC.
He has been further sentenced to 5 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5000 under Section 440 read with Section 149 IPC.
All sentences shall run concurrently.
Speaking to the media, senior advocate HS Phoolka expressed doubts about Sajjan Kumar's medical reports. "I suspect that Sajjan Kumar has managed his medical reports. We will move the High Court and pray to constitute a medical board to assess his medical condition," Phoolka said.
On the other hand, defense counsel Anil Kumar Sharma said that Sajjan Kumar is innocent and that they plan to appeal the verdict in the High Court. (ANI)