Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Tejinder Khanna on Thursday granted sanction to the CBI to charge sheet senior Congress leader of Delhi and former Member of Parliament P. Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.Mr. Kumar is alleged to have incited violence during the anti-Sikh riots that rocked the Capital and other parts of the country in the aftermath of the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, on October 31, 1984.The sanction was required in Mr. Kumar's case as he was also charged under Section 153 (A) of the Indian Penal Code (spreading enmity between two communities), well-placed sources in the Home Ministry said.
Chidambaram's stand
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said at a press conference on Thursday that he had issued “certain direction on December 16, 2009 regarding pending sanctions for prosecution.'' He told the Rajya Sabha recently that the Lt. Governor was advised to decide by December-end the CBI request for prosecuting the Congress leader. The CBI has completed its probe investigation or re-investigation of seven cases, including those involving Mr. Kumar. In four cases, the agency had sought permission from the competent authority — the Lt. Governor — to prosecute the accused.
Nanavati report
The case against Mr. Kumar was registered following the report of the Nanavati Commission report in February 2005. The Commission had recommended fresh examination of complaints in which he was named and no charge sheet filed.
No interference, says Congress
PTI reports:Reacting to the development, the Congress said the law would take its course in the matter. “The law will take its own course.The Congress does not interfere in legal matters,” party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said. Mr. Kumar was given the party ticket to contest from the South Delhi parliamentary constituency in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. But after a public outcry against fielding him and Jagdish Tytler for the elections, the party cancelled their nominations.
What about Tytler, asks BJP
The BJP asked why Mr. Tytler was being “spared” and demanded time-bound trial against the accused.“What about Jagdish Tytler? Why is he not being prosecuted? And why was there so much delay?” BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
