JNU Sedition Case: Court slams Delhi police for filing chargesheet without approval

A Delhi court on Saturday slammed the police for filing chargesheet against former Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) president Kanhaiya Kumar and others in the 2016 JNU sedition case without taking approval from the legal department. "You don’t have approval from legal department, why did you file chargesheet without approval?" the court asked the police.

The Delhi police told the Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Sheraw that it would procure the requisite sanctions from the legal department within 10 days. On January 14, the Delhi Police had filed the chargesheet against Kanhaiya Kumar and others. In its chargsheet, the police claimed that Kumar was leading the procession and supported the anti-India slogans raised in the university campus.

"It is evident from Kumar's act seen in the video footage/statements of witnesses that he become the part of unlawful assembly, led the unlawful assembly, played active role in riots, raised/supported anti national slogans which lead to violence," the police said in its chargesheet, adding that "Kumar himself raised anti-India slogans to incite hatred and disaffection towards the government established by the law."

Police also charged former JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya for allegedly shouting anti-India slogans during the event held on February 9, 2016, to commemorate the hanging of Parliament-attack mastermind Afzal Guru.

Khalid raised slogans as shown in the videos and mobile clips, the police said, citing a video which shows him saying "the programme is against occupation of Kashmir by the Indian State. I am making it very apparent that I am not from Kashmir but I believe that what is happening in Kashmir is Indian occupation of Kashmir..."

The evidence listed by the agency include report of JNU's high-level committee, statement of varsity's Registrar Bhupinder Jutshi and the mobile phone recordings in which Kumar was seen arguing with him over cancellation of the programme.

On February 11, 2016, a case was registered under sections 124A and 120B of the IPC against unidentified persons at the Vasant Kunj (North) police station, following complaints from BJP MP Maheish Girri and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The court didn't accept the chargesheet against Kanhaiya Kumar.
• Delhi police said it will get approval in 10 days.
• Kanhaiya is accused of leading anti-national event at JNU in 2016.