Former Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani has been arrested today on sedition and other charges in connection with an event in New Delhi in which anti-India slogans were raised. Geelani was called to the Parliament Street police station last night where he was detained and questioned for several hours, and later arrested.
His arrest comes amid the raging row over the arrest of JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar over sedition charges in connection with an event against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
At a Press Club event on 10th February, in which Geelani was present on the dais along with three other speakers, a group allegedly had shouted slogans hailing Afzal Guru. Taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the police registered a case against Geelani and other unnamed persons.
In 2001, Geelani was arrested by Delhi Police in connection with the Parliament attack case but acquitted for need of evidence by the Delhi High Court in October 2003. The decision was upheld by the Supreme Court in August 2005, which at the same time had observed that the needle of suspicion pointed towards him.
Meanwhile, the police custody of JNU Student Union President Kanhaiya Kumar has been extended by two days. He was arrested in connection with the sedition case and criminal conspiracy registered over holding of an event at the varsity.
A scuffle broke out between JNU students and a group of men in lawyer’s robes outside Patiala House court in New Delhi yesterday, hearing the sedition case against Kanhaiya.