JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar was released from Tihar jail on March 3. (AFP photo)
Hearing on JNU Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar in Delhi High Court today saw the AAP government taking a firm stand that there was no violation of any bail condition by the student leader, even as Delhi Police sought to buy time 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 they were 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 Mr Kumar on the ground that his speech after his release from Tihar Jail 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.
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 (Kanhaiya) 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."