1984 anti-Sikh riots case: Trial commences against Sajjan Kumar

The trial in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others began in a Delhi court in New Delhi on Friday.

The statement of prosecution witness and at present private secretary of Lt. Governor of Delhi, Vishwendra, was recorded before Karkardooma's district judge JR Aryan.

Vishwendra was then deputy secretary in the home ministry when the sanction was given to prosecute the accused in the case.

Testifying, Vishwendra identified his signatures on the documents relating to sanction and said he had no personal knowledge about them.

The court directed Vishwendra to bring on record to show the case was sent to Lt. Governor of Delhi seeking sanction to prosecute the accused and fixed the matter for Jan 15.

The court had earlier framed various charges, including murder and rioting, against Sajjan Kumar, Brahmanand Gupta, Peru, Khushal Singh and Ved Prakash in connection with the killing of a man in the Sultanpuri area of the national capital in the riots that took place after the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi Oct 31, 1984.

Accused Khushal has since died.