Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, who was serving a life sentence for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi, died on Thursday, August 20, according to Safdarjung Hospital sources reported by PTI and published by livemint.com. Kumar was brought to the hospital dead, and the cause of death has not been disclosed.
Kumar was convicted by the Delhi High Court on December 17, 2018, for involvement in the killing of five Sikhs and the burning of a gurdwara during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He was serving his sentence at Tihar Jail at the time of his death. The hospital confirmed his death but has not provided further details on the circumstances.
The 1984 anti-Sikh riots followed the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and resulted in widespread violence against Sikhs in Delhi and other parts of India. Sajjan Kumar's conviction was a significant development in the long-delayed justice process for the victims of the riots. His death closes a chapter on one of the most high-profile cases related to the 1984 violence.
Sajjan Kumar was 80 years old at the time of his death, which was confirmed on August 20, 2026, by Safdarjung Hospital authorities, as reported by livemint.com and PTI.