The Supreme Court has scheduled July for the final hearing on the petition filed by Sajjan Kumar and Balwant Khokhar, who are seeking suspension of their sentences in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The court, during the hearing, directed the provision of records from the trial court for review.
While hearing the petition, the Supreme Court made it clear that a final hearing on the case would not be possible at this stage. The court stated that if there is a request for suspending the conviction, the petitioners are free to raise the issue.
The petition, filed by lawyer Rakesh Dahiya, includes a request to reconsider the decision regarding Khokhar’s furlough.
Balwant Khokhar, in his petition, informed the Supreme Court that despite its earlier order to consider his furlough application expeditiously, the jail authorities had rejected his request on September 26, 2025. Khokhar challenged the Delhi High Court’s December 17, 2018 ruling, which upheld his life sentence.
Khokhar, who is serving a life sentence, highlighted his physical challenges in the petition. At 66 years old, he suffers from 54 per cent permanent disability in his lower limbs and is afflicted with various medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease (CA), and dyslipidemia.
In related developments, former MLA Mahendra Yadav, who was sentenced to 10 years for his involvement in the case, died of Covid-19 while in Mandoli jail. Yadav’s death adds to the complex legal proceedings surrounding the 1984 riots case.
Sajjan Kumar and Balwant Khokhar were convicted in December 2018 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for their roles in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Kumar’s conviction in the Delhi Cantt case was upheld by the Delhi High Court, which also overturned the trial court’s 2013 acquittal of Kumar. Both Kumar and Khokhar are currently serving their life sentences in Tihar Jail.
As the Supreme Court prepares for the final hearing in July, all eyes remain on the fate of Kumar and Khokhar as their petition for suspension of sentence continues to unfold.
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