Who Was Sajjan Kumar, Ex-Congress MP And 1984 Riots Convict

Sajjan Kumar, a former Congress MP, died in Tihar jail while serving a life sentence for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Born in Delhi, Kumar entered politics in 1977, eventually becoming an influential Congress politician. He served in the Delhi Municipal Corporation and later in Parliament, representing Outer Delhi. However, his career became marred by allegations of involvement in the 1984 riots, which erupted after the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by Sikh bodyguards.

The riots resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Sikhs and the destruction of a gurdwara. In 2018, the Delhi High Court convicted Kumar in connection with the killing of five Sikhs and the burning of a gurdwara, sentencing him to life imprisonment. Despite his conviction, Kumar continued to face legal issues. In 2025, a Delhi court sentenced him to life imprisonment for another incident during the riots, where he allegedly incited mobs to attack Sikh community members.

The accusations against Kumar alleged that he organized the violence, offering attackers money and liquor. Survivors of the riots and civil liberties groups accused Kumar of orchestrating the attacks as part of a coordinated effort, not merely a spontaneous reaction. Kumar's legacy transformed from a rising political figure to one of the most prominent Congress politicians linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

He spent his final years in prison after being convicted in one of India's darkest episodes of political violence.