Bombay HC to hear anticipatory bail plea in Saibaba tribute slogans case
A former Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) student, Kamakhya Das, has approached the Bombay High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a case relating to alleged inflammatory slogans raised at an unauthorised campus gathering held to commemorate the first death anniversary of former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba. The slogans allegedly included calls for the release of jailed activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, both accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
A Mumbai sessions court recently rejected Das' anticipatory bail plea. Justice Prafulla Khubalkar agreed to hear the High Court petition on Friday after it was mentioned for urgent hearing. The FIR, registered at Trombay police station and transferred to the Crime Branch, alleges that around 10-12 students gathered near a hostel without permission to pay tribute to Saibaba.
Das has denied that inflammatory slogans were raised and contends that the allegations are "untrue" and "completely unreliable". He argues that offences of unlawful assembly and promoting enmity between groups are not made out. The sessions court had granted anticipatory bail to seven other accused in the matter but denied relief to Das and another accused, citing more serious allegations against them.
