New Delhi: High drama was witnessed at the Patiala House court in the national capital on Wednesday as Jawaharlal Nehru Students' Union president Kanhaiya Kumar was produced before the court. Kanhaiya, who is charged with sedition, was assaulted by a group of lawyers at the court.
"My life is at risk. If I am guilty, send me to jail but stop the media trial against me," Kanhaiya told the court.
Kanhaiya is being sent to judicial custody till March 2. He will be lodged in cell number 3 of Tihar Jail under high security cover. Sources said that he will be kept under round the clock security and will be provided a separate ward with other jail facilities.
In the courtroom, Kanhaiya identified the lawyers who attacked them, and pointed them out to the judge. He identified one Surinder Singh who managed to run away from the court room. Singh claimed that he hit Kanhaiya and said that he would do it again.
In view of the situation at the court, Kanhaiya was taken out of Patiala House Court complex to Tihar Jail after being confined to court room for three hours because of siege by lawyers. Police had planned to take him from the court to Tihar before 4 PM but some 150 lawyers stayed put near the court room, with police finally able to take him out at about 7 PM.
Just moments after he was sent to judicial custody, Kanhaiya Kumar issued a statement saying he condemned the pro-Afzal guru event organised in the university campus that has snowballed into a major row. Further he asserted that he doesn't support the anti-national slogans raised in the campus and has appealed to everyone to maintain peace.
Shocking scenes were repeated at the court where two groups of lawyers clashed with each other. Pro-India slogans were raised by lawyers who called themselves 'deshbhakts' and referred to those stopping them as 'deshdrohi'.
The scuffle comes at at a time when the Supreme Court specifically instructed the Delhi Police to brace up the security to avoid any untoward incident in the Patiala House Court premises. The apex court had given the orders during a hearing of the plea in which action was sought against the lawyers who thrashed journalists who were covering the JNU incident.
The Supreme Court appointed a panel of lawyers to give report on the law and order situation at the Patiala House court. Lawyers' panel told the court that there is serious threat to safety and security of accused who was beaten outside and was even pushed by unknown persons in courtroom.
Senior lawyers told the apex court they faced abusive slogans and had to rush inside courtroom in police cordon which was also broken. Flower pots, bottles were also thrown at them.
The apex court has directed the Delhi Police chief to personally ensure safety, security of accused and all others who attended the court proceedings on Patiala House Court.
The Delhi Police is also under attack for not reigning in the lawyers. Police Chief BS Bassi, however, tried to play down the incident and said the police won't object Kanhaiya's bail plea.
"Use of force in the court would have been counter-productive. We have followed norms of prudent policing. Lawyers are officers of court. Use of heavy force would have been inappropriate in this case. Police will not object to bail for Kanhaiya Kumar," Bassi said.
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