Sajjan Kumar bail plea: Supreme Court seeks medical report from AIIMS

The Supreme Court today sought a medical report from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on the health of former Congress leader and 1984 anti-Sikh riots convict, Sajjan Kumar..The order was passed by a Bench of Justices SA Bobde, S Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari in the bail plea filed by Sajjan Kumar..The Court was initially inclined to hear the matter during the winter vacation, when Sajjan Kumar’s appeal against conviction by the Delhi High Court is slated to be heard..The Court even passed an order to that effect after Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave submitted that the matter should be heard only during the winter vacation..However, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh subsequently entered appearance on behalf of Sajjan Kumar and cited the poor health of the former Congress leader. He sought indulgence of the Court to seek a medical report..Dave objected, stating that this case is a sad commentary on this nation. He went on to berate the prosecution for its lacklustre role. Dave said,.The Court, however, proceeded to seek a medical report from AIIMS and will hear the plea after receipt of the report from AIIMS..In December, the Delhi High Court had sentenced former Member of Parliament (MP) Sajjan Kumar to imprisonment for life for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots..Sajjan Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment under Section 120B r/w Sections 302, 436, 295, 153A and 153B of the Indian Penal Code..The High Court reversed the 2013 decision of the trial court and held him guilty of the offences of murder, promoting enmity between groups, and defiling public property..Kumar subsequently filed an appeal challenging his conviction in the anti-Sikh Riots case..The conviction prompted Kumar to file an application in the High Court praying for extension of the December 31, 2018 deadline to surrender. However, the High Court refused to entertain the same. This prompted the former MP to approach the Supreme Court in appeal.