Sajjan Kumar, the former Congress MP who was convicted in a case connected to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, has died at the age of 80, according to multiple news reports.

Death Confirmed by Reports

News agency PTI reported the death of the former parliamentarian, while The Statesman reported that Kumar was brought dead to Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. India Today reported that he died in jail.

Conviction in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Case

Kumar was convicted in a case related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, one of the darkest chapters in India's history. The riots followed the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and saw thousands of Sikhs killed across the country, particularly in Delhi.

Recent Legal Developments

According to the Hindustan Times, Kumar's death came months after he was acquitted in another case connected to the 1984 riots. The former Congress leader had been facing legal proceedings linked to the violence for years.

A Controversial Political Figure

Kumar remained a controversial figure in Indian politics due to his alleged role in the 1984 violence. His conviction was seen by many as a long-delayed step toward justice for the victims of the riots. His death marks the end of a decades-long legal saga that had come to symbolize the slow pace of accountability in the anti-Sikh riots cases.