Former Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani was denied bail by the Patiala House Court on Friday.
The court had reserved its order on Geelani’s bail plea earlier in the day and said it would come to a decision later on the same day.
The 46-year-old professor of Arabic was arrested on charges of sedition on Monday after “anti-national” slogans were allegedly raised at an event held at the Press Club on 10 February where Geelani was present.
Delhi Police on Friday had said that they would oppose his bail plea.
Security was tightened at Patiala House Court, where Geelani’s bail application hearing took place.
According to Hindustan Times, during the hearing Geelani’s lawyer Satish Tamta said that the police had brought up Geelani’s alleged involvement in the Parliament attack case of 2001 “just to prejudice” his client, who was acquitted of all charges for want of evidence in October 2003 by the High Court.
The public prosecutor however argued that it was an admitted fact that Geelani was at the Press Club where he put up a board “glorifying Afzal Guru who was an enemy of the state as held by SC.”
He (Geelani) was so shrewd that he didn’t even give his credit card, didn’t book the hall in his name and he is not cooperating with cops. He has in the past organised this kind of event. If the previous governments couldn’t stop him and this government wants to, why not tell them?Public prosecutor
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)