On JNU Students, Court Tells Cops To Ensure 'No One Suffers Even A Scratch'

Kanhaiya Kumar's request for bail will be heard on Monday. The police today asked the court for his custody, saying that they want to question him along with two other students arrested yesterday - Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya.

When last week's violence at the Patiala House court and the attack on Kanhaiya Kumar came up, the court said: ""We have to ensure that no one suffers even a scratch this time. Not a scratch or you will have to answer to me. The registrar of the High Court and the police should ensure that no ruckus, as happened in the past, should take place while the accused are being produced."

The court said Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya should be produced before the magistrate in a way that the media doesn't know. "There shouldn't be any error while producing them," the court said.

Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, arguing that Kanhaiya Kumar should be granted bail, said that there was no evidence of anti-India slogans raised by him according to a police report.

The report said Kanhaiya Kumar was seen in footage of a group shouting anti-national slogans at JNU or Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Mr Kumar and the other two students have been arrested on sedition charges over a controversial event on February 9 to mark the anniversary of the hanging of terrorist Afzal Guru, during which anti-India slogans were raised.

The police have told the court that if Kanhaiya Kumar is released on bail, he may influence witnesses. They also say his bail will send the wrong message to students across the country that one can get away with anti-national activities with a few days in jail.

The Supreme Court had ordered heavy security at the High Court for Kanhaiya Kumar's hearing.

The two other JNU students, Umar Khalid and Anirban, were arrested last night after they surrendered.

Three more accused students are likely to move court for protection from arrest.