Jawaharlal Nehru University Student’s Union president Kanhaiya Kumar on Wednesday was produced before the Patiala House court for his alleged role in raising anti-India slogans and praising Parliament attack mastermind Afzal Guru.
While being taken to hear his case, lawyers who had gathered raising ‘Vande Mataram’ slogans allegedly attacked Kanhaiya Kumar.
Slapped with sedition charge, JNUSU leader Kanhaiya Kumar said he is an Indian who has
full faith in judiciary and the Constitution, a statement the police latched on to say that it will not oppose his bail.
“I have said earlier too. I am an Indian. I have full faith in the Constitution as well as the judiciary of the country,” Kumar told metropolitan magistrate Lovleen when he was produced for remand proceedings.
“The media trial against me is painful. If there is evidence against me that I am a traitor, then you please send me to jail. But if there no evidence against me, there should be no media trial,” he said in a statement at the start of the proceedings.
Kumar, who has been booked under sedition charge in connection with an event in JNU where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised last week, has been arrested by Delhi Police. He has been remanded to judicial custody till March 2.
Reacting to the statement, Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi said if Kumar applies for bail, then police will not object to it.
“I personally feel, a young person…perhaps be given bail,” he told reporters.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that it will be the personal responsibility of Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi to ensure the safety of JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, as it was told that he was severely beaten up while being brought to the court premises earlier in the day.
The apex court bench of Justice J.Chelameswar and Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre said that it would be the responsibility of police to ensure that besides Kanhaiya Kumar, all those who attended the court proceedings in pursuance of its morning order leave the court premises in safety.
The court order came after it was told by senior counsel Ajit Kumar Sinha, appearing for Delhi Police, that Bassi has told him that he takes personal responsibility for the safety of Kanhaiya Kumar while he is taken out of the court premises.
Sinha had taken instructions inside the court room from the police commissioner on the directions of the court, asking if police commissioner can guarantee safety and security of Kanhaiya Kumar who has been accused of sedition.
The court adjourned the hearing till 2 p.m. on Thursday, permitting a team of lawyers to submit their report about their assessment of the situation that prevailed in the Patiala House court complex when they visited it on its post-lunch direction.
The court also sought a report from the registrar general of the high court who too was present in the court room of the metropolitan magistrate on instructions of the apex court.
The court gave Delhi Police till Friday morning to submit its report, as it directed the next hearing of the matter on Monday.
Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen gave the ruling after Delhi Police said it did not need the president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) any more for interrogation.
JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested on Friday by Delhi Police after a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy was registered against him.
He is blamed of raising anti-India slogans inside the Varsity campus during Pro-Afzal Guru event.
(With agencies input)