Delhi High Court Flags Gaps in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Case Investigation, Orders Reconstruction of Records
Court Expresses Concerns Over Investigation and Trial The Delhi High Court, while hearing five petitions linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots , has highlighted serious gaps in both the investigation and the conduct of the trials in three specific cases. These cases relate to the violence in the Raj Nagar area of Delhi Cantt during November 1984. The petitions were taken up suo moto by the court and are connected to a CBI appeal against the acquittal of former MP Sajjan Kumar in another Raj Nagar-related case. Acquittals and Missing Case Records In 1986, the trial court acquitted all accused in these cases. However, during the High Court's review, it found that essential case records were missing. These include: Deposition of witnesses Exhibited documents Statements recorded under Section 161 of the CrPC The absence of such records, the bench noted, makes it impossible to proceed with the current petitions. Bench Observations The Division Bench of Justices Sub...