HC likely to hear Kanhaiya's bail plea on Monday

The bail plea of JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, arrested for sedition, is likely to be heard on Monday by the Delhi High Court.

The president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students moved the high court seeking bail and his lawyers will file additional documents in support of the plea.

Security was beefed up in the high court to avoid any untoward incident, in view of the violence seen in the Patiala House courts when Kanhaiya Kumar was produced for hearing.

He moved the bail plea two days after a lower court sent him to judicial custody till March 2.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court asked his advocate to move the high court for bail.

The student leader had directly moved his bail plea before the Supreme Court invoking its jurisdiction under article 32, under which a citizen can move the apex court for enforcing his fundamental rights. Besides bail, Kanhaiya Kumar has sought direction for his safety and security from the apex court.

Invoking article 21 guaranteeing right to life and personal liberty and pointing to the atmosphere of violence that prevailed in Patiala House Court complex on February 15 and 17, he, in his petition in apex court, has said that the manner in which his physical harassment was allowed to take place was a clear pointer to the violation of his right to access justice delivery system.

Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested in a sedition case on February 12 after an event held on the university campus against hanging of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.