Kumar said no goal would be served by keeping him in the jail as the police has been finding it hard to produce him even in the court.
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Kanhaiya, who was sent to judicial custody in Tihar Jail for 14 days, had to be taken out of the complex by policemen who dressed him in riot gear and used shields to protect him. However, when the bench asked Kumar’s lawyers whether they can wait till Friday, they agreed. They told the President that despite a “direct order” from the Supreme Court to ensure adequate security outside Patiala House court, the government has “refused” to prevent attacks on journalists and students.
Journalists covering his case have been attacked and a panel of Supreme Court lawyers sent to investigate were heckled, with one describing an “atmosphere of terror” in the lower court.
In his plea, he said there has been a repeated breakdown of law and order machinery at the Patiala House Court complex, both before and after the order of apex court.
The academics add how they are watching events in the country “with extreme concern” and say they “refuse to remain silent” while their colleagues “resist the illegal detention and autocratic suspension of students”.
Another police intelligence officer’s report had said that leaders of the ultra-radical Democratic Students Union (DSU), including Iinchpin Umar had assembled at the event and shouted anti-India slogans. Naqvi said that Congress and some other political parties are now misusing educational institutes for their narrow political interests.
Rahul Yadav, President of ABVP unit of JNU’s School of Social Sciences (SSS) and its Secretary Ankit Hans have also said they have quit.
The Supreme Court of India has taken note of the situation and frozen the trial temporarily. Kanhaiya’s elder brother Manikant Kumar, who works in a private firm in Assam, has rushed back home, so has his younger brother Prince Kumar, who is preparing for Civil Services examination in Delhi.
Amnesty International called for the immediate release of Kumar and S.A.R Geelani, a former Delhi University lecturer arrested Tuesday on the same charge in connection with another event marking Guru’s death.
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Surprisingly, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said if Kanhaiya applies for bail, the police will not object to it, he however mentioned that there is adequate evidence against Kanhaiya in the sedition case.
