Delhi?s lieutenant governor Tejinder Khanna on Thursday granted sanction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to prosecute Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in two cases relating to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
News of the L-G sanctioning Kumar?s prosecution came minutes after Union home minister P Chidambaram, while presenting the monthly report card of his ministry, stated that after the discussion on the Delhi riots, he had ?issued certain directions on December 16, 2009 regarding? decision on the request for sanction of prosecution.?
Government sources said that the L-G?s sanction relates to the four cases registered against Kumar on November 1, 1984 in the Sultanpuri police station. The sanction, sources said, was needed since Kumar had been charged under Section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code that deals with ?promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony?.
The CBI, which is investigating seven cases related to the riots, had sought the government?s sanction for prosecution in four cases. Union home minister P Chidambaram had on December 14 told Parliament that he had advised the Lt Governor, the ?competent authority? in the case, to take a decision before the end of this month.
Other than these four cases, the CBI has already filed closure reports in cases against Dharam Das Shastri and Jagdish Tytler. In the seventh case, the CBI has examined 48 witnesses and has collected 23 documents. ?I expect the CBI to submit its report and either seek sanction or close the matter as soon as they come to a conclusion,? Chidambaram had told Parliament.