Government: Kanhaiya Kumar didn’t violate bail condition

The AAP government on Wednesday took a firm stand during a hearing in the Delhi high court on JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar and told the judges that there was no violation of any bail condition by the student leader. However, the Delhi police sought to buy time from the court by saying the matter was being probed.

The police said it cannot comment on the pleas seeking cancellation of interim bail granted to Mr Kumar without verifying facts and it was investigating whether any bail condition was violated.

The investigators’ response came after the Delhi government categorically stated that no grounds have been shown by petitioners which warrant cancellation of Mr Kumar’s interim bail at this stage.

The court was hearing arguments, which would continue on April 28, on separate pleas seeking cancellation of interim bail to the JNUSU president on the ground that his speech after his release earlier this month was “anti-national” and he had violated the bail conditions. They have also sought initiation of perjury proceedings against him.

However, special public prosecutor Shailendra Babbar, appearing for the Delhi police, said, “As regards the allegations that he (Kanhaiya) has violated the bail conditions, this fact is disputed. Unless verified by us, we cannot comment on this. The investigation is going on.”

“We have not preferred any cancellation application. If the court will issue notice, we will come back to the court. I have to verify and unless verified I cannot comment,” he told Justice Suresh Kait.

The Delhi government’s senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra, however, told the bench the state government has left it to the court. “If the court says that yes the bail conditions have been violated, we have nothing to say.”

However, “no single ground has been shown which satisfy the condition that he (Mr Kumar) has violated the bail conditions at this stage. No violation is shown. They (petitioners) must place the grounds on which they are seeking cancellation of bail,” Mr Mehra said.

“There is no single act by which it could be said that there is violation of the order,” he said, adding, “Courts are conscious of the fact that if their orders have been violated, then bail must be cancelled.”

During the hearing, the counsel representing one of the petitioners, Vineet Jindal, claimed that after Mr Kumar was released, he had organised a press conference.

“After his release what he did, kindly see. He says in Kashmir women are raped by security personnel. I do not know why the police is not taking action against him,” he said.

The court, however, said, “What is the hurry If the police is not taking any action then you can go to court. You said you have already given a complaint to the police. If he (Mr Kumar) had violated any condition, the other side (the police) will look into it.”