“We’re Confident Jagdish Tytler Will Be Jailed”: HS Phoolka on 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Trial

Senior advocate cites explosive 2012 sting played in court where Tytler allegedly admits to killing 100 Sikhs during the 1984 Pul Bangash Gurudwara massacre; calls for justice after Sajjan Kumar’s conviction.

📍New Delhi | April 22, 2025

In a significant development in the long-standing investigation into the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots, senior advocate HS Phoolka on Monday voiced strong confidence that Congress leader Jagdish Tytler would be convicted for his alleged role in the Pul Bangash Gurudwara killings, where three Sikhs were murdered.

The assertion comes after the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court reviewed footage of a 2012 sting operation submitted by Manjit Singh GK, former President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC).

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🔍 2012 Sting Played in Court

The sting operation, which was presented as key evidence, allegedly captures Jagdish Tytler on tape boasting about killing 100 Sikhs during the riots and claiming to be “very powerful.”

“The CD played in court clearly shows Jagdish Tytler admitting he killed 100 Sikhs. His lawyer is trying to discredit the footage, but with Manjit Singh GK’s testimony, we are confident he too will be behind bars,” Phoolka told reporters outside the court.

Tytler’s legal team has challenged the authenticity of the sting, claiming the voice in the footage is not his.

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⚖️ Renewed Legal Momentum After Sajjan Kumar Verdict

The case gains traction in the aftermath of former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar’s life imprisonment sentence earlier this year in a separate anti-Sikh riots case.

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated on Tuesday that Tytler and Kamal Nath could be next, adding that families of victims may push for a death sentence in severe cases of riot-related murder.

“Justice is finally catching up. Sajjan Kumar’s conviction is just the beginning,” said Sirsa, warning that other accused political leaders are also under legal scrutiny.

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⚰️ Case Background: Pul Bangash Massacre

The Pul Bangash Gurudwara case is among the most notorious incidents of the 1984 riots, where mobs targeted Sikh communities following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Tytler, then a Congress leader, has long faced allegations of instigating violence and orchestrating attacks, though he has repeatedly denied involvement.

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👩‍⚖️ Legal Developments

• Judge Kaveri Baweja is overseeing the proceedings.
• The sting evidence will now be subject to forensic voice analysis and authentication procedures.
• The CBI is re-examining prior witness testimonies in light of the new footage.

Meanwhile, Tytler remains out on bail but under close legal observation as the case gains renewed public and judicial attention.