A former student of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has approached the Bombay High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a case alleging that he raised slogans supporting jailed activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam during an event on the institute’s campus.
Kamakhya Das filed the petition after a Mumbai court rejected his anticipatory bail plea on August 7. His fellow former student, Abhirup Paul, was arrested by the Mumbai Police hours after the court denied him protection from arrest.
Justice Prafulla Khubalkar is scheduled to hear Das’s plea on Saturday.
Das Calls Allegations “Completely Unreliable”
In his petition, Das denied the allegations and claimed that no one at the event had raised slogans supporting Khalid or Imam.
He described the police complaint as being based on “untrue events and allegations” and called it “completely unreliable”, according to Bar and Bench.
Das and Paul were among students booked after an event held at TISS in October to commemorate the death anniversary of former Delhi University professor and activist GN Saibaba.
The police case includes allegations of unlawful assembly, promoting enmity between groups and other offences.
Case Also Relates to Alleged Maoist Literature
The prosecution has also alleged that Das and Paul possessed downloaded books and other material that reflected Maoist ideology.
Das has challenged this allegation in his petition, arguing that possessing such literature “is not a criminal offence”. He said downloading books does not establish that he authored them, belonged to a banned organisation or subscribed to its ideology.
He also rejected the allegation that he attended the gathering with the intention of spreading Maoist ideology among other students, calling the claim “complete bogus”.
The petition further argues that the serious charges of unlawful assembly and promoting enmity on religious grounds are not supported by the facts of the case.
Students Had Gathered to Remember GN Saibaba
The police case relates to an event held by TISS students in October to mark the death anniversary of GN Saibaba. Students had gathered to light candles and display posters commemorating the former Delhi University professor, who died in October 2024.
Saibaba, who had a severe physical disability, had spent more than seven years in prison in a case alleging links with Maoist groups. The Bombay High Court acquitted him in March 2024, after which he was released. He died in Hyderabad seven months later following post-operative complications.
Following the TISS event, the institute’s administration filed a complaint, leading to the registration of a case against students who attended it.
Seven Students Already Granted Anticipatory Bail
A Mumbai court granted anticipatory bail to seven other students booked in connection with the event on August 7.
While granting them protection from arrest, the court observed that paying homage to Saibaba was not unlawful. However, it noted that allegations of slogans supporting Khalid and Imam, along with material allegedly recovered from the students’ electronic devices, weighed against granting bail to some of the accused.
Khalid and Imam have been in custody for more than five years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 Delhi riots. Their trial has yet to begin, while their regular bail pleas have repeatedly been rejected.
Das’s plea before the Bombay High Court will now determine whether he receives protection from arrest while the case against him proceeds.
