New Delhi: The Supreme Court has delivered a major setback to former Congress Member of Parliament Sajjan Kumar by rejecting his interim bail plea in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Sajjan Kumar is currently serving life imprisonment in multiple cases linked to the 1984 violence. The court’s decision means he will continue to remain in jail until further orders.
In 2018, the Delhi High Court had convicted him in the Palam Colony case for the murder of five Sikh individuals and sentenced him to life imprisonment. Later, in 2025, he was also awarded life imprisonment in another case related to violence and criminal conspiracy in Saraswati Vihar.
During the hearing, the former MP had sought interim bail on grounds of health issues and advanced age, arguing for temporary relief from incarceration. However, the Supreme Court rejected the plea, stating that the matter involves extremely serious offences that led to large-scale loss of life.
The court observed that granting bail at this stage would not be appropriate considering the gravity of the crimes, and directed that he will remain in jail until the final hearing of his appeal.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots remain one of the most tragic and sensitive chapters in India’s history. Following the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, widespread violence broke out across several parts of the country, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Sikhs and extensive damage to property.
The case against Sajjan Kumar has been under judicial consideration for several years, with multiple investigations and trials leading to convictions. The Supreme Court’s latest ruling has brought a sense of relief to victims’ families, who continue to await complete justice.
