Sajjan Kumar’s bail plea to be heard Monday

NEW DELHI - Congress leader Sajjan Kumar’s anticipatory bail plea would be heard by Delhi High Court Monday. The leader is accused of instigating mobs during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The high court had Thursday declined to stay the non-bailable warrant issued against him in two riot cases.

Justice A.K. Pathak will hear the arguments from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and decide on Sajjan Kumar’s bail plea.

During brief arguments held Thursday, CBI counsel Vikas Pahwa had opposed the bail plea of Sajjan Kumar and two other accused, who apprehend being arrested by the agency.

Senior advocate I.U. Khan, appearing for Sajjan Kumar, pleaded that his client should be granted some interim relief. The CBI had been “very kind and generous” to him for all these years “but somehow things have changed”, he said.

On this, Justice Pathak said: “CBI is still generous for you.”

Arguing for other accused, former additional solicitor general Amarendra Sharan said: “Filing of the fresh charge sheet in the case is in bad spirit of law. The charge sheet is not maintainable at all. If this situation will prevail, then nobody in this country will have liberty to live and will never be able to acquit himself from trial.”

The CBI, on Monday, may also file their reply on the writ petition of the other two accused, who had challenged the second trial.

The investigative agency had filed charge sheets against 13 people Jan 13 in two 1984 riot cases for allegedly making provocative speeches leading to the killing of 12 people in the violence that broke out following the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards.