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

New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumarand two other JNU students today approached a Delhi courtseeking regular bail in a sedition case relating to allegedanti-India slogans being raised at the university campus inFebruary. Besides Kanhaiya, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya,who were also out on interim bail, moved the trial court forregular bail. Their pleas would come up for hearing tomorrow. The move came after the Delhi High Court on August 17 hadrefused Kanhaiya’s application for regular bail and asked himto approach a sessions court for the purpose. He was granted interim bail by the high court on March 2for six months which is scheduled to expire on September 1. While granting interim bail to Khalid and Bhattacharya onMarch 18, the trial court had observed that the roleattributed to Kanhaiya does not appear to be different fromthe allegations levelled against the two accused. The court had granted the relief to the duo on furnishingof a personal bond in the sum of Rs 25,000 with one surety ofthe like amount, which was complied with by them followingwhich they were ordered to be released till September 19. It had also directed Umar and Anirban not to leave Delhiwithout permission during the period of interim bail and makethemselves available before the investigating officer as andwhen required for the purpose of the probe. The high court had earlier granted interim conditionalbail for six months to Kanhaiya asking him not participateactively or passively in any activity which could be termedanti-national. It had on August 11 declined the plea of two privateindividuals to cancel Kanhaiya’s interim bail, saying nothinghas been brought before it to show that the student leader hadmade any anti-national speech after his release. Kanhaiya was arrested on February 12 on sedition chargesin connection with an event on the campus on February 8 whereanti-national slogans were allegedly raised. Umar and Anirbanwere arrested later. PTI UK RRTARC