As many as 29 activists, lawyers, students, artists, academicians and civilians appeared before the Esplanade court in Mumbai after being summoned in connection with an FIR filed by Colaba Police station under sections 143, 149 IPC and 37(3), 135 of the Mumbai Police Act for the protest at the Gateway of India in January earlier this year.
In protest against “violence” on students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), largely spontaneous, tens of thousands of civilians and people from all paths of life all across the city, including film personalities, political leaders and sitting ministers participated.
At the first hearing in the matter before the magisterial court, the police filed charge sheet against 36 persons. All the 29 persons present were granted bail on furnishing PR bond of Rs. 10,000. The next date in the matter is March 23, 2021.
Recently, a delegation of eminent citizens had met the Maharashtra Home Minister who reportedly assured them that the case as well as all other criminal cases in connection with protests against Citizenship Amendment Act, National Population Register and National Register of Citizens, as also against violence on JNU students would be withdrawn by the state government. He had forwarded the matter for further action, he said.
A senior activist, who appeared in the magisterial court, later said, “We trust that all the criminal cases filed in connection with peaceful protest demonstrations held in the city to uphold the constitution will be closed at the earliest.”
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