Delhi court to hear on Aug 29 case against Jagdish Tytler related to 1984 anti-Sikh riots

New Delhi, Aug 21 (IANS) A Delhi court on Monday said that it will hear on August 29 the case against Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, who is accused in the Pul Bangash killings during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the national capital. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vidhi Gupta Anand on August 11 had given 10 days to Tytler to review the documents provided by the CBI, including the charge sheet.

On Monday, Anand adjourned the matter after the probe agency sought time to advance arguments on an application moved by Tytler seeking certain documents. “PP (Public Prosecutor) for CBI seeks some time to file reply to the aforesaid application. Be filed by the next date of hearing with advance copy to Counsel for the accused. Matter be now put up for reply, if any/ arguments on the application / further proceedings on August 29,” the judge said.

On August 11, Anand had approved the request of Tytler's counsel, who initially asked for two weeks to go through the material. Tytler had, on August 10, filed a request with the court to be allowed to attend proceedings through video conferencing. The plea was presented in court on the grounds of security concerns. Tytler's advocate has appealed for the court's authorization for his client to participate remotely, citing a recent protest by the Sikh community during Tytler's in-person appearance on August 5. On August 5, the court accepted a bail bond by Tytler. The development came a day after Special Judge Vikas Dhull had granted anticipatory bail to Tytler. Tytler's wife, Jennifer, stood security for him in the case, and the court verified her identity and financial status. After noting that she was financially independent, the court had accepted her as a surety.

Tytler was brought to court amid high security. The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) members had staged a protest outside the Rouse Avenue Court, voicing their opposition to Tytler. Raising slogans while holding placards and posters which read "Jise honi thi jail use kyu mili bail?", scores of people demanded justice while protesting in front of the court. A minor clash was also reported between the protestors and the police.

Judge Dhull had granted the relief to Tytler on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and one surety of the like amount. The case pertains to when Gurdwara Pul Bangash at Azad Market was set on fire by a mob on November 1, 1984 and three persons, Sardar Thakur Singh, Badal Singh and Gurcharan Singh, were burnt to death. The incident took place a day after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.

In its charge sheet filed before the court, the CBI has said that Tytler incited, instigated and provoked the mob that had assembled at the gurdwara, which resulted in the burning down of the shrine and the death of the three persons. Charges under Sections 147 (rioting), 109 (abetment) read with 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), among others, have been invoked against Tytler by the probe agency.

On June 2, the Rouse Avenue Courts had approved a supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI against Tytler in the riots case and also transferred the case to the special MP-MLA court for trial. The court had earlier also instructed the CBI to expedite the process of obtaining the forensic report of Tytler's voice sample.