Former Congress MP Jagdish Tytler appeared before the Rouse Avenue court through video conferencing due to safety concerns in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. He had been charge-sheeted by the CBI in the Pul Bangash Sikh riots case. Tytler’s counsel requested the court to allow him to appear through video conferencing following a protest organized by the Sikh community against him during the previous hearing.
Tytler appeared before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Vidhi Gupta Anand via video conferencing. His counsel sought two weeks’ time to scrutinize the documents filed by the CBI, along with the supplementary charge. However, the court expressed that two weeks was a long time considering it is a special MP/MLA court created to expedite cases. The court urged the defense counsel to complete the scrutiny within a week.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on August 21. Additionally, the court rejected the submissions made by the lawyers for the victims, who argued that Tytler should physically appear in court. The court explained that the High Court had already permitted Tytler to appear through video conferencing, and he should continue using this method until his physical presence was required.
Earlier, Tytler had appeared before the court in response to the summons issued by the court after taking cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI. He was granted anticipatory bail on August 4 by the sessions court. The CBI had filed the supplementary charge sheet on May 20.
The case is related to the killing of three individuals in the Pul Bangash area on November 1, 1984. The CBI had filed a charge sheet against Tytler regarding the anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of the then Prime Minister of India on October 31, 1984. In the charge sheet, Tytler, who was a Congress leader and Member of Parliament at the time, was named as one of the accused.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the case was registered in November 2005, concerning an incident where Gurudwara Pul Bangash in Azad Market, Bara Hindu Rao, Delhi, was set on fire by a mob. Three individuals, namely Sardar Thakur Singh, Badal Singh, and Gurcharan Singh, were burned to death near the Gurudwara.
The Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry was established by the Indian government in 2000 to investigate the incidents of the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi in 1984. After reviewing the Commission’s report, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed the CBI to investigate the case against Tytler and others.
During the CBI investigation, evidence emerged that Tytler allegedly instigated, incited, and provoked the mob gathered at Gurudwara Pul Bangash in Azad Market on November 1, 1984, resulting in the burning of the Gurudwara and the killing of three Sikh individuals. The mob also looted and burned nearby shops.
The court proceedings regarding this case will continue on August 21, as Tytler’s defense counsel requested more time to scrutinize the documents filed by the CBI. Until then, Tytler will appear before the court via video conferencing, as permitted by the High Court.
