Anti-India slogans: Court extends JNUSU President’s police custody by two days

New Delhi

A Delhi court today extended by two days the police custody of JNU students’ union president and left-wing student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, arrested in a case of sedition and criminal conspiracy in connection with an alleged anti-national event inside the Jawaharlal Nehru University premises during which anti-India slogans were chanted.

Kanhaiya who was earlier sent on four days police custody after court hearing was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen today where the police sought his custodial interrogation, an official associated with the investigation told PTI.

The police told the court that custodial interrogation of Kanhaiya to ascertain the alleged links of the accused persons, including those who are allegedly absconding, with terrorist groups, was required.

The court, after hearing the submissions, extended Kanhaiya’s police custody by two days till February 17, he said.

Earlier in the day, violence broke out in the court complex when groups of lawyers attacked journalists, students and teachers of JNU and unidentified people in and outside the court, dubbing them as ‘anti-nationals’.

Kanhaiya had earlier told the court that he was neither shouting any slogan nor saying anything against integrity of the country and said he had rushed to the spot only to prevent a clash between ABVP workers and students organising the event.

He had claimed in the court that this was a politically- motivated case and he was being framed by the police as he had defeated the ABVP candidate in the presidential elections of the JNU students’ union (JNUSU).

However Delhi Police Commissioner has clearly said that the police has video of Kanhaiya which demolishes his argument. In previous hearing security person of JNU had identified Kanhaiya Kumar who was part of the controversial event. The Judge had even watched video.

A case was registered on February 11 under Sections of 124 A (sedition) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC against unknown persons at Vasant Kunj (North) Police station following complaints by BJP MP Maheish Girri and the ABVP.

A group of students had on February 9 held an event in the campus and allegedly shouted slogans against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in 2013.

With inputs from PTI

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