Rustication of Jawaharlal Nehru University student Mujeeb Gattoo shows discrepancies between the findings of the University’s internal enquiry committee and that of the Delhi Police’s ongoing investigation in the sedition case.
While Mr. Gattoo’s name is not mentioned in the first information report filed by the police, the University administration has found him “guilty of raising objectionable slogans”. This has also served as the main ground for his rustication from the University for a period of two semesters.
Alleged anti-India sloganeering was one of the main grounds on the basis of which the police had booked JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya in the case.
Sources in the South District said at the time they had handed over the case to the Delhi Police Special Cell (the trio had already been arrested by then), Mr. Gattoo’s name had not been mentioned anywhere and not did they not probe his role.
Those in the Special Cell, however, refused to comment on the progress of the investigation.
On speaking to the University officials who conducted the enquiry and found Mr. Gattoo guilty of objectionable sloganeering, an officer said they are awaiting forensic reports on the authenticity of the video, on which the sedition case stands, and only then will they talk to those featuring in it.
This again is something the police did not wait for in case of Mr. Kumar, Mr. Khalid and Mr. Bhattacharya. It should be added here that Mr. Gattoo’s name was sent to the police through anonymous letters while the JNU row was at its peak in February and March.
Mr. Gattoo is pursuing his M.Phil from the Centre for Educational Studies, School of Social Sciences.
In the case of Mr. Kumar, who emerged as the face of the controversy and was charged with sedition for allegedly shouting anti-national slogans by the police, the JNU internal committee report does not mention him as having raised any objectionable slogans.
As per the JNU report, Mr. Kumar was present on the grounds where the objectionable slogans were being raised but did not do much to stop them. This is in complete contrast with the Delhi Police theory.
Mr. Kumar was in judicial custody for 14 days in connection with the case and was also attacked twice while being produced in court. He has faced numerous attacks and threats thereafter.
