Pro-Afzal Guru former DU lecturer SAR Geelani’s bail plea dismissed

The Patiala House Court today dismissed the bail plea of former Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani, arrested for allegedly organising an event at the Press Club of India in New Delhi to mark the death anniversary of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

Geelani has been arrested on sedition charges and the police alleged that the event was intended to create "hatred" against the government.

"There has been incitement and hatred generated against the government of India. The entire purpose of the event was to create disloyalty among the people of India," counsel for the police alleged.

Police opposed Gilani's bail plea saying the offence was grave and there was apprehension that he might try to influence the investigation and tamper with the evidence if released on bail.

Also, the police said, Gilani was not cooperating with the probe and not telling the whereabouts of the others involved in booking the conference hall where the event was held.

Appearing for Gilani, advocate Satish Tamta told the court that the police was relying on news channel clips and CCTV footage recording of the Press Club of India.

"I have no role to play in the slogans raised in the event and in fact I was the one who pacified and made the persons raising slogans to stop," Tamta said.

After hearing the arguments of both the parties, Metropolitan Magistrate Harvinder Singh rejected the bail plea of Gilani.

Geelani was remanded to two-day police custody by a Delhi court on Tuesday.