Crime Branch to probe sedition case against Geelani

A court in New Delhi was on Friday informed that the probe into a case of sedition, lodged against writer Arundhati Roy, hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and four others for delivering anti-India speeches, has been given to the Crime Branch of Delhi Police.

The Crime Branch told Metropolitan Magistrate Navita Kumari Bagha that on orders from the police headquarters, the case has been transferred to it from the Tilak Marg police station, where it was registered in November 2010 on court orders.

It also assured the court that proper investigation would be conducted in the case and would be completed soon.

The station house officer of the Tilak Marg police station had filed several status reports in the case, saying the probe was still being conducted.

Even after over a year and half, the Delhi Police is yet to file its charge sheet in the case. It had earlier examined complainant Sushil Pandit.

Besides Geelani and Roy, Pandit had sought prosecution of four others, including Delhi University professor S A R Geelani, who was acquitted in Parliament attack case, and Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a Kashmir University professor.

According to the complaint, the accused made the comments at a convention in New Delhi in October 2010 on 'Azadi- The Only Way'.

Hurriyat leader Geelani shared the dais with Roy and pro-Maoist leader Varavara Rao among others. Geelani had been heckled by the audience.