JNU row: Delhi Police may have to drop sedition charges against Kanhaiya Kumar, says MHA

NEW DELHI: The charges of sedition levelled against Kanhaiya Kumar will have to be dropped if there is no “solid evidence” that he was shouting anti-India slogans, a senior MHA official said. If this happens, it will deliver a blow to the Delhi Police which is facing flak over the arrest of the JNU student leader.

In a recent communication to the home ministry, the Delhi Police informed that the audio in the footage on the alleged incident received by them was of poor quality and that they have sought forensic opinion on it. ET was the first to report on Wednesday that the police were comparing the voice sample of Kumar and that a forensic result was awaited.

The police informed the ministry that they have written to news channels for the recordings of the event inside the JNU campus on February 9 and a reply was awaited. Hours after the Centre’s directions, police commissioner BS Bassi said: “If Kumar applies for bail, then police will not object to it. I personally feel a young person... perhaps be given bail.”

The top cop earlier claimed the police have evidence of Kumar’s involvement in anti-India sloganeering. Top government sources said if the Delhi Police were unable to find evidence proving sedition, they would have to water-down the charges.