Jnu Student Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya who were alleged with sedition charge by Delhi Police got an interim bail. A session court granted 6 months of interim bail on Friday to both. The judge stated that the accused are highly educated, have graduated from premier college and have no previous criminal record.
Reetesh Singh who is additional session judge stated rejected the argument of Delhi Police Special Cell and stated “allegations against the duo were different from those against co-accused and JNU students’ union leader Kanhaiya Kumar. Bail for the two was being granted on “ground of parity”.
Khalid and Bhattacharya were released from custody late on Friday and reached the JNU campus to a rousing welcome from students.
"keeping in view that no previous criminal record of any nature whatsoever has been alleged and the fact that nothing has been brought on record which could indicate that they are likely to abscond from the jurisdiction of the court… I deem it appropriate to release both the accused on interim bail for a period of six months,” said ASJ Singh, referring to Khalid and Bhattacharya.
Further he added ““Both present accused are highly educated persons. They have graduated from premier colleges of Delhi University, completed their MA and MPhil from JNU and are currently pursuing PhD programme from JNU…Their credentials and family background as stated in their bail applications have not been contested by the state.”
The sessions court asked the accused to furnish a personal bond of Rs 25,000 each along with surety worth the same amount. Both were furnished by JNU faculty members Rajat Dutta and Sangeeta Dasgupta