JNU row: Another student Ashutosh Kumar joins police investigation

In its status report filed before the high court, police had alleged Kanhaiya had not only participated in the event in JNU campus on February 9 where anti-national slogans were allegedly raised but had “actually organised” the programme.

Umar and Anirban had surrendered before police late on February 23 night.

The police on Friday night asked Ashutosh to join the investigation at R.K. Puram police station in New Delhi.

Kumar was confronted with Khalid and Anirban separately in a first round and the three were questioned together in a second round, according to police sources. “The police escorting me tried to save me but they were also beaten up”, he said adding that in another instance when he was attacked, the police did not do anything.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had ordered that “confidentiality” be maintained during the remand proceedings of Umar and Anirban, besides Kumar, while directing the police to ensure that no one “suffers even a scratch” and there is no ruckus this time.

He further said the police have so far been unable to identify four persons who had covered their faces with mufflers – all believed to be outsiders – who were spotted allegedly raising anti-national slogans at the event.

JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar is already behind bars in Tihar Jail, again for sedition.

The reports adds that the Delhi Police’s intelligence unit prepared the list a week after the protests erupted, but after it was revealed last week that the video showing students shouting anti-national slogans was doctored, they found themselves in an embarrassing situation.

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Two days earlier, when he was to be introduced to the court, the same set of lawyers had thrashed correspondents and JNU students and instructors. They are accused of “interfering in the administration of justice” and “wilfully violating” a February 17 order of the Supreme Court.

All three lawyers who were summoned for questioning and released on bail immediately after a formal arrest on separate days were also caught in a sting operation by news channel India Today TV purportedly “bragging and boasting” about the assault. One of the attackers managed to enter the corridor of the court with me.