Who was Sajjan Kumar? From 3-time Congress MP to 1984 riots convict

Sajjan Kumar, a three-time Congress MP and a convict of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, passed away on Thursday in Tihar jail at the age of 80, according to news agency ANI. Kumar's death brought an end to a long incarceration that began with his conviction in December 2018 for his involvement in the riots.

Born and raised in Delhi, Kumar initially entered politics as a municipal councillor from Nangloi in 1977. He was also the general secretary of the Pradesh Congress Committee at the time. Kumar was a close ally of Sanjay Gandhi, the younger son of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Kumar's political career took off when he won the Outer Delhi Lok Sabha seat in the 1980 elections, defeating Chaudhary Brahm Prakash, who had served as Delhi's first chief minister. However, his alliance with Indira Gandhi's family would ultimately become his downfall.

Following the assassination of Indira Gandhi in 1984, Kumar was accused of being criminally responsible for the widespread violence that erupted in the aftermath. He withdrew from public life and continued to support the Congress party from behind the scenes. Kumar returned to active politics in 1991, winning re-election to the Lok Sabha for a second term and again in 2004.

Throughout the 1984 riots, Kumar faced multiple criminal cases related to the violence. In the Delhi Raj Nagar case, involving the killing of five family members and the burning of a gurudwara, the Delhi High Court overturned a trial court's acquittal and convicted Kumar, sentencing him to life imprisonment on December 17, 2018.

In the Saraswati Vihar murder case, Kumar was acquitted by a trial court but was later sentenced to another life term on February 25, 2025, after a Special Judge deemed his old age, ailments, and conduct during his previous imprisonment warranted a life sentence instead of the death penalty. In the Janakpuri and Vikaspuri violence case, Kumar was acquitted by a Rouse Avenue court.

Kumar had repeatedly sought bail and medical relief while in prison. In May 2025, the Delhi High Court issued a notice on an appeal against the acquittal in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. Despite his numerous legal battles, Kumar remained a prominent figure within the Congress party until his death.