1984 anti-Sikh riots: Congress leader Jagdish Tytler gets anticipatory bail

Three people were killed and a gurdwara set ablaze in the Pul Bangash area

congress_jagdish_tytler (File) Jagdish Tytler

A Delhi court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in a case related to the killing of three people in Pul Bangash area in Delhi during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Special Judge Vikas Dhull also imposed certain conditions on Tytler, including that he will not tamper with the evidence in the case or leave the country without its permission.

Three people were killed and a gurdwara set ablaze in the Pul Bangash area on November 1, 1984, a day after the then prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.

On August 2, 2023, Delhi court had reserved its order after hearing arguments from the counsel appearing for Tytler and the CBI.

During the proceedings, a woman, who claimed to be a victim, had told the court it has been 39 years and they have still not got justice, and broke down in front of the judge.

Appearing for the victims, senior advocate H.S. Phoolka had opposed the bail application and claimed Tytler had threatened him on live TV.

During the hearing, the CBI, too, had opposed Tytler's application.

In its charge-sheet filed before the court, the CBI had alleged that Tytler "incited, instigated and provoked" the mob that had assembled at Pul Bangash Gurdwara in Azad Market on November 1, 1984, that resulted in the burning down of the gurdwara and killing of three Sikhs - Thakur Singh, Badal Singh and Guru Charan Singh.

The agency has invoked charges under sections 147 (rioting) and 109 (abetment) read with 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), among others, against Tytler.

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