1984 Pul Bangash Sikh killings case: Court puts Jagdish Tytler on trial in Sikh killings case

Congress leader Jagdish Tytler appeared before the court and he denied charges framed against him. This case pertains to the killings of three Sikhs near Gurudwara Pul Bangash on November 1, 1984.

Special judge Rakesh Syal has listed the matter for trial and recording of evidence on October 3. The first witness called for evidence is Lakhvinder Kaur, whose husband Badal Singh was killed during riots.

On August 30, the court said that there are sufficient grounds to presume that he abetted the killing of three Sikhs by instigating the mob that attacked Gurudwara Pul Bangash, and some of them set it on fire.

Special CBI Judge Rakesh Syal said, "There appears to be sufficient grounds to presume that the accused has committed offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 188 and 153 A IPC, Sections 295, 436, 451, 380 read with Section 149 IPC, and Section 302 r/w Section 109 IPC."

The Rouse Avenue court directed to frame charges against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in the Pul Bangash Sikh Killings case. The court directed to frame charges under sections 143, 153A, 188, 149, 380, and 436 IPC read with 302 and 109 IPC. He has been discharged under Section 148 IPC.

This incident occurred after the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The CBI had filed a supplementary charge sheet against Tytler on May 20, 2023.

On July 26, 2023, the court issued a summons to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler after taking cognisance of the supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI against him. A supplementary charge sheet has been filed by the CBI in the case of killings in the Pul Bangash area in 1984.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Vidhi Gupta Anand had issued a summons to Jagdish Tytler. "I have gone through the supplementary charge sheet, case record, statement of eyewitnesses, and other witnesses. There is sufficient material to proceed further," ACMM Vidhi Gupta Anand said.

Tytler was granted bail on August 5, 2023, after his appearance before the court. The Central Bureau of Investigation on May 20 filed a charge sheet against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in a case related to anti-Sikh riots in 1984 following the assassination of the then Prime Minister of India, on October 31, 1984.

In a statement, CBI mentioned that the agency had registered the instant case in November 2005 on an incident wherein Gurudwara Pul Bangash at Azad Market, Bara Hindu Rao, Delhi was set on fire by a mob and three persons namely Sardar Thakur Singh, Badal Singh and Gurcharan Singh were burnt to death on 1 November 1984 near Gurudwara Pul Bangash.

Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry was set up in the year 2000 by the Government of India to enquire into the incidents of anti-Sikh riots of the year 1984 in Delhi.

After consideration of the Commission's report, the Ministry of Home Affairs (Government of India) issued directions to the CBI to investigate the case against the then Member of Parliament and others.

During the CBI investigation, evidence came on record that on November 1, 1984, the said accused allegedly instigated, incited and provoked the mob assembled at Gurudwara Pul Bangash at Azad Market, Delhi which resulted in the burning of Gurudwara Pul Bangash and killing of three Sikh persons by the mob, apart from burning & looting of shops. (ANI)