Ex-lecturer SAR Geelani, arrested for sedition, moves fresh bail plea

New Delhi: Former-DU lecturer SAR Geelani, arrested under sedition charges in connection with a Press Club event here, moved a fresh bail application before a Delhi court on Wednesday.

The accused, arrested on February 16, filed his bail applications before the Patiala House Courts registry and his plea is likely to come up for hearing before a sessions court tomorrow.

Earlier on February 19, a magisterial court had dismissed his bail application after the police alleged that "hatred" was being generated against the government.

Meanwhile, Geelani's judicial custody was also extended by two weeks by a court here.

Police had earlier told the court that an event was held on February 10 in which banners were placed showing Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat as martyrs.

It had also said the hall in the club was booked by Geelani through one Ali Javed by using his credit card and another person Mudassar was also involved.

At the Press Club event, a group had allegedly shouted slogans hailing Guru, following which the police had lodged a case under sections 124A (sedition), 120B(criminal conspiracy) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the IPC against Gilani and other unnamed persons.

The police had claimed to have registered the FIR taking suo motu cognisance of media clips of the incident.

Following registration of the FIR, the police questioned DU professor Ali Javed, a Press Club member who had booked the hall for the event, for two days.

Geelani was arrested in connection with the 2001 Parliament attack case but was acquitted for "need of evidence" by Delhi High Court in October 2003, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in August 2005.