Permission sought to prosecute politicians in anti-Sikh riots case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has sought permission to prosecute Congress leaders Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar, accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, home minister P Chidambaram said today.

The CBI has completed investigation or re-investigation of seven cases against Tytler, Kumar and late Dharam Das Shastri, Chidambaram informed the Rajya Sabha.

"While in four cases, the CBI has sought permission under Section 196 CrPC from the Competent Authority to prosecute the accused persons, in one case the closure has been filed and accepted by the court," he said.

The home minister was responding to a Calling Attention motion on the progress of relief and steps taken to punish the guilty involved in the anti-Sikh riots.

Chidambaram said the government is taking all possible steps in consultation with the ministry of law to bring the "guilty to book, wherever Nanavati Commission (probing into anti-Sikh riots) has named any specific individuals...".

In one of the cases completed by the CBI against the three Congress leaders, chargesheet was filed in the court in September, 2007. The final report was also submitted in the court in March, 2009, "which is under consideration of court".

In the remaining case, the process of locating and examining the witnesses is continuing, the home minister said.