Kanhaiya Kumar Missing In Intel Report On JNU 'Sedition List'

New Delhi: Kanhaiya Kumar, the JNU student arrested on sedition charges, is not among the names listed in an Intelligence Bureau report on anti-India slogans raised at a controversial event.

The report sent to the Home Ministry and the Delhi Police yesterday does not even refer to Mr Kumar, who was arrested for allegedly shouting slogans at the February 9 event at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to mark the anniversary of the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

The Intelligence Bureau has profiled the students that the police say are wanted for sedition for their role in organizing the event or participating in it.

Three days after the incident, policemen entered the JNU campus and arrested Mr Kumar citing video evidence that he had raised anti-national slogans.

The Intelligence Bureau report, however, does not mention the 28-year-old student at all, which reinforces speculation about whether his arrest was justified.

This is the second intelligence report that does not indict Mr Kumar for anti-India slogans.

A report by security agencies, sent to the home ministry earlier, noted that even though Mr Kumar was present at the event, he possibly did not raise any anti-India slogan or say anything that could invite the charge of sedition, for which the maximum punishment is a life term.

Mr Kumar's arrest and the sedition charge has been described by the opposition and large sections of students and teachers at JNU as unwarranted over-reaction. The government has rejected that charge.

Yesterday, Delhi Police Chief BS Bassi said: "If he applies for bail, we have no objection."

Earlier, he had claimed "adequate evidence" against Mr Kumar.