Kanhaiya Kumar gets bail in sedition case, to walk out of Tihar Jail on Thursday

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to Jawaharlal Nehru University students union president Kanhaiya Kumar in the sedition case against him.

The court granted Kanhaiya bail on a personal bail bond of Rs 10,000 and asked him to co-operate in the Delhi Police's ongoing investigation. Members of the JNU faculty will stand surety and they have to ensure that he would not take part in any anti-national activity, actively or passively, or raise anti-India slogans.

Kanhaiya is likely to walk out of Tihar Jail only on Thursday as his lawyers now have to collect his bail papers from the Patiala House Court. The Delhi Police also have the option of approaching the Supreme Court early in the morning before he is released.

The judge said, "Investigation in this case is at a nascent stage. The thoughts reflected in the slogans raised by some JNU students cannot be protected under fundamental right of speech and expression. I consider this as a kind of infection with which students are suffering which needs to be controlled/cured before it becomes an epidemic. During the period petitioner was in judicial custody, he might have introspected. To enable him to remain in the mainstream, I am inclined to provide conservative method of treatment. Hence, interim bail for 6 months."

Appearing for Kanhaiya in court, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal said he was at the location only to oppose any fight between the group organising and the one opposing the campus event in memory of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Counsel for Delhi Police said, "This order was not a setback for Delhi Police, investigation is at a very early stage. We haven't seen the order yet and we will react to order once we see it."

Kanhaiya's brother Manikant said, "Full victory will only be after my brother is absolved of sedition charges. We are afraid and concerned about his security now. "

Immediately after the HC order the Congress and Left parties lashed out at the government. Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said his arrest was gross injustice and a grave misuse of the state machinery.

Kanhaiya, who was arrested on February 12 for allegedly raising anti-national slogans at the JNU campus, was in police custody till February 17 and later remanded in judicial custody till March 2.