Sajjan Kumar: Congress veteran to convict
Sajjan Kumar, a former Congress MP convicted for his role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, has died at age 81 while serving a life sentence. His death has created a political dilemma for the Congress party due to the sensitive nature of the riots in Punjab.
Why it matters
The death of a high-profile convict in a historic communal violence case carries significant political weight in Indian regional elections.
Sajjan Kumar, a three-term Lok Sabha member and once a powerful leader of Delhi Congress, whose political career was eclipsed by his conviction in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases , died at Safdarjung Hospital here on Thursday (August 20, 2026) . He was 81.
Mr. Kumar, who was serving a life sentence in Tihar Jail, was taken to hospital after his health deteriorated and was declared brought dead.
He had been in custody since December 2018, when he surrendered following the Delhi High Court’s decision to overturn his acquittal in a case relating to the killing of five members of a Sikh family and the burning of a gurdwara.
His death has left the Congress with a political dilemma, ahead of the Punjab Assembly election. The party has maintained a conspicuous silence on his death, with no immediate condolence from its top leadership.
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