India, New Delhi: Yesterday, a court granted bail to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)  student leader Kanhaiya Kumar, whose arrest on a controversial sedition charge last month sparked major protests and a nationwide debate over free speech. Kanhaiya was arrested on Feb 12 over a rally at Delhi’s prestigious JNU at which anti-India slogans were chanted. He has been in judicial custody in the capital’s Tihar jail since Feb 17.

The Press Trust of India reported, the Delhi High Court granted Kumar six months’ interim bail, ordering him to furnish a personal bond of Rs10,000. The court also asked a JNU faculty member or a relative to put up the same amount as surety. A lawyer for the Delhi police, Shailendra Babbar, told reporters after the hearing, “Today the court granted interim bail for six months to the accused, subject to (the) outcome of the investigation”. Lawyer added, “The court has taken a balanced view to ensure that the investigation is not affected and also making sure his (Kumar’s) liberty is not curtailed”.