New Delhi, December 31: The former Congress leader and the convict in the 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots case, Sajjan Kumar surrendered before the Karkarduma Court in New Delhi today. The former Congress leader was sentenced by the Delhi High Court to life imprisonment, reversing the acquittal granted to him by a trial court in 2013. The 73-year-old former MP was asked to surrender before December 31. The former Congress leader had on December 22 approached the Supreme Court challenging the high court's judgment. His plea challenging the high court verdict is not likely to be taken up for hearing before December 31.

The 73-year-old former Congress leader was sentenced to life for the "remainder of his natural life" by the Delhi High Court on December 17 in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The case relates to the killing of five Sikhs in Raj Nagar part-I area in Palam Colony in South West Delhi on November 1-2, 1984 and burning down of a Gurudwara in Raj Nagar part II. Riots had broken out after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984, by her two Sikh bodyguards.

The Delhi High Court on December 21, rejected the former MP’s plea seeking more time to surrender. In the petition, Kumar, demanded time till January 30 to surrender after being recently sentenced to life imprisonment in the case. The former Congress leader had also appeared before Patiala court in another case of anti-Sikh riots pertaining to the killings in Delhi’s Sultanpuri area. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered the case on the recommendation of the Nanavati Commission.

Meanwhile, one of the witnesses in the case also filed a caveat in the Supreme Court. In the caveat, the witness has demanded that if Sajjan Kumar challenges the life imprisonment awarded by Delhi High Court, then the Supreme Court should also hear the victims before taking a final decision.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 31, 2018 02:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).