Shehla Rashid granted protection from arrest

New Delhi, September 10

A Delhi court has granted interim protection from arrest to Jammu and Kashmir People’s Movement leader Shehla Rashid, who was booked for sedition over her controversial tweets on Kashmir.

Additional Sessions Judge Pawan Kumar Jain granted the relief to Rashid till November 5 and directed her to join the investigation conducted by the Delhi Police as and when called by the investigating officer.

Public prosecutor told the court that the police have not received any complaint from the Army and that they needed at least six weeks to investigate the matter. Rashid’s counsel said she was ready to join the probe and would cooperate with the police. “Considering all these facts, I am of the view that matter required investigation in detail, accordingly, re-notify the matter on November 5. Till then, the accused shall not be arrested, however, she shall join the investigation as and when called by the IO,” the judge said.

Rashid had posted controversial tweets on Kashmir on August 17. On the basis of her comments, advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava had filed a complaint to the Special Cell, saying the allegations levelled by the former JNU student leader were “absolutely false and concocted”.

In his complaint, Srivastava had accused Rashid of “deliberately spreading fake news with the intention to incite violence in the country” and maligning the Army’s image.

Following the complaint, the police had registered an FIR under IPC Sections 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief). PTI