New Delhi, Aug 30: A Delhi court on Tuesday said that it cannot press sedition charges against Delhi University’s Ramjas College on the basis of an “unauthenticated, unreliable video”. Delhi court’s remarks came after it watched a footage of alleged ‘anti-India’ sloganeering at the Ramjas College on February 21 this year.
Metropolitan magistrate Abhilash Malhotra was hearing arguments on a plea, by a complainant, which sought FIRs against AISA and Students Federation of India (SFI) who allegedly raised anti-India slogans at the college. He said that the authenticity of the video is to be ascertained by the police and only then, the court will decide if sedition charges will be pressed or not. He also said that several other videos need to checked and make sure they are authentic.
“Authenticity of the video is not established. What is the source of this video? On the basis of unreliable material, how can we press charges of sedition? You have to be confident of (the) authenticity of the video,” the court asked a complainant.
“Tomorrow if AISA and ABVP clash again, will it be termed as sedition? There are many doctored videos circulated on Whatsapp. These have to be verified,” the court observed, reports PTI.
The plea sought for alleged offenses of sedition, criminal conspiracy, waging war against India and defamation under the IPC. The plea also sought action against some of the Delhi Police officials who refused to lodge a complaint against the alleged anti-India sloganeering.
During the hearing, complainant Garg argued that the Delhi Police filed a report after the incident but haven’t interrogated the students yet. In the action taken report, the police was interrogating members of ABVP and AISA. “Such incidents are spreading like wildfire. The police is trying to evade their duty,” Garg said.
“There is an unauthenticated CD based on which you are seeking an FIR. We need to deliberate whether sedition is attracted in this matter or not. Educate me on the ingredients of sedition. Tell me the ‘causa proxima’ in this case that poses a threat to the society or the government. Argue on that point,” Magistrate Abhilash Malhotra asked.
