JNU sedition row: Probe panel upholds charges on Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid

After two-and-half years of long struggle on the much hyped and politicised sedition case of the decade, Jawaharlal Nehru University’s high-level inquiry committee today finally upheld the the expulsion of Umar Khalid and an imposed fine of Rs 10,000 on Kanhaiya Kumar in connection with the campus event against Afzal Guru hanging in February 2016.

The much awaited decision came in the backdrop of the protests which took place in the JNU campus, where it was alleged that  students allegedly chanting anti-national slogans against Afzal Guru’s hanging. As per the reports, JNU’s high-level five-member panel upheld the decision in the cases of Khalid and Kumar. Also the penalty has also been reduced for some students.

After the alleged incident in 2016, JNU had set up a committee to probe the involvement of Khalid and Kumar. The committee had recommended the expulsion of Khalid and two other students along with the imposition of fine on Kumar, who was then the JNU student’s union president. Also, a financial penalty was imposed on 13 other students for violating the disciplinary norms.

Opposing the decision, the students had then approached the Delhi High Court, which then directed JNU authorities to place the matter before an appellate authority to review the panel’s decision.

In February 2016, the Delhi Police have arrested Khalid, Kumar and Anirban Bhattacharya for their alleged association with the event being organised to commemorate the hanging of Parliament attack accused Afzal Guru. A sedition case was also filed on them for allegedly chanting anti-national slogans. Also, during the hearing at sessions court, Kumar was even attacked by the lawyers, which hyped the political arena of country.