Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar Dies Before Parole Hearing
Sajjan Kumar was a former member of Parliament from the Congress party.
He was in Tihar Jail because he had received life imprisonment in cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
He had asked the Supreme Court for three weeks of parole.
He said he needed it because his wife was ill.
The court was scheduled to consider the request on Thursday, but the hearing did not happen.
That morning, Kumar became seriously unwell and was taken to Safdarjung Hospital.
Doctors tried to save him, but he died at age 84.
Supporters and family members gathered near the hospital afterward.
Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar, 84, died Thursday while serving life imprisonment for cases linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
The Supreme Court was scheduled to hear his request for three weeks of parole concerning his ailing wife, but the plea did not come up.
Police brought Kumar to Safdarjung Hospital around 11 a.m. with an altered state of consciousness, and doctors began resuscitation and life-support measures.
The hospital said Kumar died at 12:30 p.m.; he had high blood pressure, Parkinson’s disease and a history of multiple hospital admissions.
About 30 supporters gathered near the hospital, while family members awaited legal procedures required to release his body because he died in custody.
- Who
- Sajjan Kumar, a former Congress MP and prisoner serving life imprisonment.
- What
- He died after being taken to hospital on the day the Supreme Court was scheduled to consider his parole request.
- When
- Thursday; he arrived at about 11 a.m. and died at 12:30 p.m.
- Where
- Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi; he had been lodged in Tihar Jail.
- Why
- He had sought three weeks of parole because of his ailing wife, while his death followed a medical emergency; the hospital did not state a specific cause of death.
- Age at death
- 84
- Parole request
- Three weeks on medical grounds concerning his ailing wife
- Court status
- The Supreme Court listing did not come up for hearing
- Hospital admission
- Safdarjung Hospital, around 11 a.m. Thursday
- Time of death
- 12:30 p.m.
- Legal status
- Serving life imprisonment in cases linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots; one report described multiple life sentences
- Public response
- Around 30 supporters gathered near the police chowki by the hospital
