Congress leader Jagdish Tytler on Friday pleaded not guilty to charges – including murder and provocation with intent to cause riot – relating to the killing of three men outside Delhi’s Pul Bangash gurdwara during the anti-Sikh riots of 1984.
“Today, Jagdish Tytler pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges. Now the case will go for evidence… the court has fixed October 3 (for the trial),” Advocate HS Phoolka told reporters, lamenting the four-decade delay. “It has taken 40 years for this trial to begin. It is very unfortunate and shows how a powerful person can cripple the whole system. Hopefully, the trial will conclude soon and he will be jailed.”
A Delhi court, two weeks ago, had ordered framing of the charges, ruling enough evidence had been provided by the Central Bureau of Investigation for the case to proceed to a trial.
Apart from murder and intent to cause a riot, Tytler faces charges of unlawful assembly, rioting, disobedience to order, defiling a place of worship, abetment), mischief by fire, and theft.