JNU case: Kanhaiya, 2 others move court seeking regular bail

New Delhi, Aug 19: JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar and two other JNU students today approached a Delhi court seeking regular bail in a sedition case relating to alleged anti-India slogans being raised at the university campus in February.

Besides Kanhaiya, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, who were also out on interim bail, moved the trial court for regular bail.

Their pleas would come up for hearing tomorrow. The move came after the Delhi High Court on August 17 had refused Kanhaiya's application for regular bail and asked him to approach a sessions court for the purpose. He was granted interim bail by the high court on March 2 for six months which is scheduled to expire on September 1.

While granting interim bail to Khalid and Bhattacharya on March 18, the trial court had observed that the role attributed to Kanhaiya does not appear to be different from the allegations levelled against the two accused.

The court had granted the relief to the duo on furnishing of a personal bond in the sum of Rs 25,000 with one surety of the like amount, which was complied with by them following which they were ordered to be released till September 19.

It had also directed Umar and Anirban not to leave Delhi without permission during the period of interim bail and make themselves available before the investigating officer as and when required for the purpose of the probe.

The high court had earlier granted interim conditional bail for six months to Kanhaiya asking him not participate actively or passively in any activity which could be termed anti-national.

It had on August 11 declined the plea of two private individuals to cancel Kanhaiya's interim bail, saying nothing has been brought before it to show that the student leader had made any anti-national speech after his release.

Kanhaiya was arrested on February 12 on sedition charges in connection with an event on the campus on February 8 where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Umar and Anirban were arrested later.

PTI