Former Congress leader who was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Delhi High court earlier this week for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots on Thursday moved an application in the court, seeking 30 days to surrender.

The court is likely to hear the application on Friday. The HC had on Monday convicted Kumar in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. Kumar was sentenced to life imprisonment till death. A two member bench, while reversing a trial court judgment slapped a fine of Rs five lakhs on him and asked him to surrender by December 31, 2016.

But an advocate representing victims in the case said that they would oppose his application for extension tomorrow. Meanwhile, one of the witnesses in the case, pertaining to the killings in Delhi Cantt, has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court.

In the caveat, the witness has demanded that if Kumar challenges the life imprisonment awarded by the Delhi High Court, then the top court should also hear the victims before taking a final decision. Phoolka has a different opinion regarding the caveat. He said, “I’ve advised victims not to move SC because if both sides file appeal, the court will hear in detail. We should rather press for dismissal of Sajjan Kumar’s appeal at the earliest. Life imprisonment till death is better punishment than death sentence.”

Meanwhile, Kumar appeared before the Patiala house court in connection with another case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the recommendation of Nanavati Commission. Kumar is facing trial on charges of murder and rioting in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case pertaining to killing in Delhi’s Sultanpuri.

The court today adjourned the matter for hearing on January 22. The hearing was adjourned as Sajjan Kumar’s main counsel Anil Sharma didn’t appear before Patiala House Court today for cross-examination of witnesses in the case. Earlier this month, on December 17, the Delhi High Court, while hearing the first case, convicted and sentenced Kumar to life imprisonment.

—India Legal Bureau