Delhi HC dismisses pleas seeking cancellation of bail granted to Kanhaiya

The Delhi high court on Thursday dismissed two petitions seeking cancellation of the interim bail granted to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students’ union leader Kanhaiya Kumar in a sedition case.

The Delhi high court on Thursday dismissed two petitions seeking cancellation of the interim bail granted to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students’ union leader Kanhaiya Kumar in a sedition case.

File photo of JNU students' union president Kanhaiya Kumar. The Delhi HC on August 11, 2016, dismissed petitions filed against interim bail granted to Kumar in a sedition case. (Sanjeev Verma / HT Photo)

Justice PS Teji dismissed petitions filed by Prashant Kumar Umrao and Vineet Jindal – both Delhi residents – that sought cancellation of the bail on the ground that his speech after his release was “anti-national” and violated the bail condition.

The Delhi government and city police had different stands on the issue. While the government said it did not want to cancel the interim bail granted to Kanhaiya, Delhi Police contended he violated his bail conditions but left it to the court to form its own opinion on the issue.

Kanhaiya, who was granted interim bail on March 2 by the high court, is facing sedition charge in connection with an event at JNU on February 9 where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised and Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru was hailed as a ‘martyr’.