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1984 anti-Sikh riots: Accused in Pul Bangash gurdwara case acquitted

CBI investigated the case on the recommendation of Nanavati Commission; named Kumar as an accused.

A year after a Delhi court asked the CBI to re-investigate the role of Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, the other accused in the case, Suresh Kumar alias Panewala, was acquitted of charges of murder and rioting on Wednesday.

The case is related to gurdwara Pul Bangash being set on fire during the riots.

Kumar has been acquitted of charges under IPC Section 147 (punishment for rioting), Section 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons), Section 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house), Section 457 (house-breaking by night), Section 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class) and Section 302 (punishment for murder).

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Reacting to the judgment, 60-year-old Kumar said, “I was implicated in the case. I had no involvement in the case whatsoever. Justice had been denied for long. I do not know how to react, but I am satisfied that now I can live as a free man.”

The CBI had investigated the Pul Bangash case on the recommendation of the Nanavati Commission and named Kumar as an accused. Charges against Kumar were finally framed by the CBI court in 2013. The Delhi court had earlier granted him bail on the grounds that there was a delay in the trial.

Festive offer

Kumar had earlier raised the issue of his identity during the process of examination of prosecution witnesses. In his statement to the court, Kumar had claimed that he had been forced to sign the said notice by police and that he had signed under “pressure”.

He had also claimed that he was employed with the railway mail service at the time of the riots, and had been on duty till late night on November 1, 1984. Following that, he claimed, he had gone to the residence of a Sikh friend in Kishanganj.

First uploaded on: 21-08-2014 at 02:11 IST
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