1984 anti-Sikh riots: Court summons former police officials as witnesses in case against Jagdish Tytler

A court here on Saturday summoned two former police officials as witnesses in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler.

The case is linked to the murder of three Sikhs at Gurudwara Pul Bangash in 1984.

Special CBI Judge Jitendra Singh, who was scheduled to record the statement of another prosecution witness Manmohan Kaur, was informed by the federal investigation agency that the summons could not be served on her address.

The CBI sought time to summon Kaur again. It was given by the court.

The judge then issued summons to the former police officers (Dharam Chandrasekar and Ravi Sharma) and directed them to appear before the court on December 2, the next date of hearing.

Tytler appeared in court via video conference.

On November 12, the judge had finished recording the statement of Lakhvinder Kaur, widow of Badal Singh, who was killed by a mob at Gurudwara Pul Bangash during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Badal Singh was a ragi at Gurudwara Pul Bangash.

The court filed charges of murder and other crimes against Tytler on September 13.

A witness had earlier stated in the charge sheet that Tytler got out of a white car in front of Gurudwara Pul Bangash on November 1, 1984 and instigated a mob against Sikhs that led to the “killing” of three people.

In August last year, a sessions court granted anticipatory bail to Tytler in a personal bail case. ₹1 lakh and surety of the same amount.

The court also imposed certain conditions on Tytler, including that he not tamper with evidence in the case or leave the country without permission.

The agency had filed charges against Tytler under Sections 147 (sedition) and 109 (terrorism) 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), among others.