Prof Virender Singh denied anticipatory bail

The Rohtak court had, on February 29, issued arrest warrants against Prof. Virender after he failed to join the probe even after he was granted two days time by the Special Investigating Team. After the dismissal of anticipatory bail petition by Rohtak court, Prof. Virender is expected to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court for bail. The FIR was registered on the basis of a 90-second audio clip of a purported conversation between Prof. Virender and Capt. Maan Singh Dalal (retd.), spokesperson of the Dalal Khap 84, allegedly inciting violence during recent Jat agitation in Haryana.

The district judge clarified, “If he is allowed anticipatory bail, I agree with the learned public prosecutor that it would amount to scuttling the investigation which cannot be permitted keeping in view the magnitude of the incident.”

The judge further said, “I do agree that from the conversation between the accused-applicant (Prof Virender) and Captain Man Singh, the offence of sedition is prima-facie not made out as from said conversation, it cannot be concluded that the agitation had gone violent on the instigation of the accused -applicant. There may be other reasons for the same.” The judge further expressed that it is a matter of investigation but the fact is that the allegation against Prof. Virender are of serious nature.

Before parting with the order, the judge expressed, “If during the investigation, it is found that the accused-applicant had also some role in the violence which erupted on account of agitation, then there is no doubt that the charge of sedition against him shall be made out.”

The FIR was registered on the complaint filed by Captain Pawan Anchal (retd.), a Bhiwani resident. Besides charges of sedition, offences of criminal conspiracy and damaging public property were also included in the FIR. Captain Anchal, in his complaint, submitted, “since there is strong prima facie evidence against Prof. Virender … hence you are requested to register a case…”