Allegations against ex-DU lecturer SAR Gilani are grievous: Delhi Police tells court

Delhi: The Delhi Police on Friday told the Patiala House Court here that allegations against ex-DU lecturer SAR Gilani are grievous and against the country while opposing his bail plea.

The Delhi Police made its intentions clear shortly after the court began hearing the arguments on the bail application moved by former DU lecturer Gilani, who is in judicial custody.

However, the hearing on Geelani's bail plea in the Patiala House Court will now resume tomorrow, ANI reported.

Yesterday, Additional Sessions Judge Amit Bansal had posted the matter for today, after noting that the judge concerned was on leave.

Gilani had moved a fresh bail application on Wednesday before the Patiala House Courts registry and was listed for Thursday before Additional Sessions Judge Deepak Garg, who was absent.

Gilani has been arrested under sedition charges in connection with a Press Club event here.

At the Press Club event, a group had allegedly shouted slogans hailing Afzal Guru, following which the police had lodged a case under sections 124A (sedition), 120B(criminal conspiracy) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the IPC against Gilani and other unnamed persons.

Earlier on February 19, a magisterial court had dismissed the bail plea of Gilani, who was arrested on February 16, after the police alleged that "hatred" was being spread against the government.

Police had earlier told the court that an event was held on February 10 in which banners were placed showing Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat as martyrs.

It had also said the hall in the club was booked by Gilani through one Ali Javed by using his credit card and another person Mudassar was also involved.

 The police had claimed to have registered the FIR taking suo motu cognisance of media clips of the incident.

Following registration of the FIR, the police questioned DU professor Ali Javed, a Press Club member who had booked the hall for the event, for two days.

Gilani was arrested in connection with the 2001 Parliament attack case but was acquitted for "need of evidence" by Delhi High Court in October 2003, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in August 2005.

(With PTI inputs)