Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) students today took out a protest march from Mandi House to Parliament demanding their president Kanhaiya Kumar’s release.
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During the hearing over this week, while Kanhaiya Kumar counsel had argued that the student leader had never raised any slogans against the nation, Delhi Police had maintained that there was evidence that he and others were shouting anti-India slogans and were holding Afzal Guru’s posters. Earlier, security for Kumar had been increased in Tihar Jail after an intelligence report.
The court said Kanhaiya has to cooperate in the investigation and has to present himself before the investigators as and when required.
The Delhi High Court granted the student six months bail on a surety of 10,000 rupees ($150), defence lawyer Vrinda Grover said. The thoughts reflected in the slogans raised by some JNU students can not be protected under fundamental right of speech and expression.
“At this stage, a detailed examination of the evidence is to be avoided while considering question of bail, to ensure that there is no prejudging and no prejudice, a brief examination for satisfying about the existence or otherwise of a prima facie case is necessary”, the judge said. To enable him to remain in the mainstream, I am inclined to provide conservative method of treatment.
Judge Pratibha Rani also issued a warning to the university authorities against allowing a repeat of the February 9 events where anti-national slogans were allegedly shouted and led to the arrest of Kumar.
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The apex court had observed that if it entertained a bail plea, it would set a wrong precedent and directed that it be expeditiously heard by the Delhi high court. “The petitioner has not been seen raising anti-national slogans in any of the video footage”, the high court said disagreeing with the stance of the Delhi Police.
