KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
A Court in New Delhi Friday denied bail to Prof S A R Geelani accused of “anti-national” activities.
Police slapped sedition charges on Prof Geelani after an event where he reportedly spoke commemorating the third death anniversary of Mohammad Afzal Guru.
Metropolitan Magisrate Harvinder Singh heard the arguments of both the parties and rejected the bail plea of Prof Geelani, who was arrested on February 16 and is in judicial custody till March 3.
“During arguments, the police opposed the bail plea saying the offence was grave and there was apprehension that he might try to influence the investigation and tamper with the evidence if released on bail,” Indian Express reported.
The media report said that the counsel for the police also alleged that “there has been incitement and hatred generated against the government of India. The entire purpose of the event was to create disloyalty among the people of India.” “It also claimed that Geelani was not cooperating with the probe and not telling the whereabouts of the others involved in booking the conference hall where the event was held.”
Advocate Satish Tamta, appearing for Prof Geelani, the media report added, told the court that the police were “relying” on clips of news channels and a CCTV footage recording of the Press Club of India. “I have no role to play in the slogans raised in the event and in fact I was the one who pacified and made the persons raising slogans to stop,” Tamta said.
Police had earlier told the court that an event was held on February 10 in which banners were placed showing Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat as “martyrs”.
