Kanhaiya Kumar is one of the accused for holding an "anti-national" event in JNU in 2016
Highlights
- Chargesheet against Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, others for 2016 event
- They've accused of organising event against Afzal Guru's hanging
- Reacting to chargesheet, Kanhaiya Kumar said it's "politically motivated"
A chargesheet was filed on Monday against former student union leaders Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and eight others for allegedly holding an "anti-national" event at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi in February 2016.
The police said they have evidence to proceed against former JNU Students' Union leaders Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya and seven students from Jammu and Kashmir - Aquib Hussain, Mujeeb Hussain, Muneeb Hussain, Umar Gul, Rayeea Rassol, Bashir Bhat and Basharat.
They have been accused of organising an event on the college campus against the hanging of Parliament-attack mastermind Afzal Guru. Their arrests then had triggered a huge controversy with the opposition slamming the police for "working at the behest of the ruling BJP".
Reacting to the 1,200-page chargesheet, Kanhaiya Kumar said it is "politically motivated". "When the magisterial inquiry was done, it was concluded that no JNU student was involved. I want to say, the police has filed a chargesheet after three years. We thank them," the former student leader told NDTV.
"The filing of chargesheet after three years, ahead of elections, clearly shows it to be politically motivated. I trust the judiciary of my country," he told news agency ANI.
Umar Khalid denied the allegations against him. "The government is trying to divert attention and change the narrative in an election year to hide their failure. We will fight the case and prove our innocence," Mr Khalid told NDTV.
"We are convinced about our innocence, and have full faith in the court," Mr Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya said in a statement.
The police said there is no direct evidence against 36 other accused, including Communist Party of India leader D Raja's daughter Aprajita, but they can be summoned for questioning. "Even at that time we said that these are politically motivated charges and nobody can accuse AISF (All India Students Federation) for any activity against nation. There's nothing to prove, our students can't indulge in such activities and the government can't slap sedition charges on them. We'll fight the case," D Raja told news agency ANI.
Three policemen were seen carrying the 1,200-page chargesheet, kept inside a trunk, to Patiala House Court before the police finally submitted it to the court.
Quoting eyewitnesses, the police said Kanhaiya Kumar was seen raising anti-national slogans at the event three years ago, adding they have CCTV and mobile phone videos showing him speaking clearly.
"The investigation was complex as the team also had to visit other states to take statements," Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik had said last week.