Twenty-nine activists, lawyers, students, artists, academicins and civilians appeared before the Esplanade court today after being summoned in connection with the FIR filed by Colaba Police station under sections 143, 149 IPC and 37(3), 135 Mumbai police act for the protest at Gateway of India in January earlier this year. This spontaneous people’s protest against violence on students at JNU was attended by tens of thousands of civilians and people from all paths of life from all across the city, including film personalities, political leaders and sitting ministers. Following the protest at gateway of India, FIR No. 7/2020 had been registered at the Colaba Police station. This was the first judicial hearing in the case before the eighth Magistrate court at Esplanade today
At the first hearing in the matter before the magistrate court today, the police filed chargesheet against 36 persons. All the 29 persons present today have been granted bail on furnishing PR bond of Rs. 10,000/-. The next date in the matter is March 23, 2021.
A delegation of eminent citizens had met the state home minister a few days ago and Maharashtra’s home minister, Anil Deshmukh had assured them that this case as well as all other criminal cases in connection with the Anti-CAA NPR NRC protests and those concerning the violence on students will be withdrawn by the government and that this decision has been forwarded for further action.