A Delhi court has granted bail to all 14 Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students who were arrested during a march from the campus to the Union Ministry of Education. The students, including three JNU Students’ Union office-bearers, were produced before the Patiala House Court after a confrontation with the police. Each of the 14 students was granted bail on a bond of Rs 25,000.
The Delhi Police argued in court that keeping the accused in judicial custody was necessary for the investigation as they claimed the protest had turned violent. The police reported that about 300 protesters tried to carry out a “Long March” without permission, leading to scuffles and assaults on officers when the police intervened. Several police personnel were injured during the clash.
During the hearing, it was revealed that some of the accused had been involved in previous protests where force was allegedly used, with four FIRs registered in connection with such incidents. The accused students’ counsel opposed judicial custody, stating that the students were willing to cooperate with the investigation and were ready to provide a written undertaking to that effect. After considering both arguments, the court granted bail to all 14 students upon furnishing bail bonds of Rs 25,000 each.
The confrontation took place when students attempted to march outside the JNU campus despite the university administration’s statement that no permission had been given for protests beyond the campus premises. The Delhi Police asserted that the protesters turned violent, including physically assaulting officers, while the students and JNU Teachers Association criticized the “excessive use of force and violation of democratic rights.”
