SAR Gilani was arrested in connection with the 2001 Parliament attack case but was acquitted for "need of evidence" by Delhi High Court in October 2003, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in August 2005. (File photo)
Delhi Police today opposed the bail plea of ex-Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani, arrested under sedition charges in connection with a Press Club event in New Delhi, saying the event was "an attack on the soul of India" and it was "contempt of court."
Additional Sessions Judge reserved the order for today itself after the arguments in which Geelani's counsel said that there were no evidences against him that he raised the alleged anti-Indian slogans, adding that criticising Supreme Court judgement was not contempt of court.
"Kashmir is an integral part of the nation. But they were celebrating the persons, Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat, who were convicted by Supreme Court. They were terming them as martyrs which was affecting the people and it was contempt of court.
"If he had not liked the SC judgement, he could have thought in his mind and within the four walls of the his house. But he had assembled people for the meeting in the heart of the Capital for that purpose which was an attack on the soul of India," police said while opposing the bail plea.
Geelani's counsel, however, sought bail for him, claiming that as per the FIR itself, the people raising slogans there were stopped by office bearers of the Press Club of India and asked to leave the venue to which they agreed to.
"There is nothing on record that Geelani shouted anti-India slogans or asked others to do so. It was a meeting of intellectuals to discuss the Kashmir issue. I had organized the event as I am Vice President of one of the committees for demanding release of the political prisoners.
"There was nothing in the event which led to any violence as there was nothing that could be called incitement. The prosecution has not pointed out that I was the one raising slogans or asked others to do so. And even if I did so, that doesn't come under 124A as it did not create any violence or incitement for the violence," the counsel for Geelani said, adding that as per the SC orders itself, shouting slogans merely doesn't consist 124-A.
He further said that Geelani is already in jail for last around one month and not required for the probe any further.
"His presence can also not influence any person and he is not capable to influence the investigation," the counsel said.
He added that the credibility of the videos run by a news channel, on the basis of which the FIR registered, has itself come under doubt.
While opposing the bail plea, the prosecution said the event was contempt of court and was held with an intention to create hatred towards the government and the law needs to be brought in to maintain public order.
"The incident was in the continuation of what had happened in JNU one day earlier. As per the statements of Press Club of India officials, anti-India slogans were shouted and Geelani was also involved in it. Geelani had violated the law of the land and the offence was grave," the prosecution added.
Earlier on February 19, a magisterial court had dismissed the bail plea of Geelani, who was arrested on February 16, after the police had alleged that "hatred" was being generated against the government.
Police had told the court that an event was held on February 10 in which banners were placed showing Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat as martyrs. It had also said the hall in the Press Club was booked by Geelani, through his associate Ali Javed by using his credit card and another man Mudassar was also involved.
At the Press Club event, a group had allegedly shouted slogans hailing Afzal Guru, following which the police had lodged a case under sections 124A (sedition), 120B(criminal conspiracy) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the IPC against Geelani and other unnamed persons.
The police had claimed to have registered the FIR taking suo motu cognizance of media clips of the incident. Following registration of the FIR, the police questioned DU professor Javed, a Press Club member who had booked the hall for the event, for two days.
Geelani was arrested in connection with the 2001 Parliament attack case but was acquitted for "need of evidence" by Delhi High Court in October 2003, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in August 2005.