JNU protest: 16 more, including 4 students, slapped surety notices

MUMBAI: The special executive magistrate (SEM) of Azad Maidan police division has issued notices to 16 more people, including four students, for participating in a protest in the city on January 6 in the wake of the attack on JNU students in New Delhi. The students have been asked to file a Rs 5 lakh bond each. On August 24, the special executive magistrate (who is assistant police commissioner), had issued a notice to activist Suvarna Salve seeking surety of Rs 50 lakh, which was later reduced to Rs10 lakh, for participating in the protest.The total amount mentioned in these 17 notices is collectively Rs 1.22 crore.

Police sources said during a hearing, an interim bond of Rs 10 lakh had been taken from Salve. She had been told the bond would be forfeited if she was found involved in any similar protest till completion of the hearing. Besides Salve, seven more persons have been served notices under section 110 (E) of the Criminal Procedure Code (see box).
While three persons have been issued surety notices of Rs 10 lakh each, three others have been asked to file a bond of Rs 5 lakh each. One person has been issued a notice of Rs 30 lakh.
Advocate Ishrat Khan, who represents Salve, said, "The proceedings are still going on against her. We have filed our reply. Though it has been stated, we have not received any notice informing us that the amount against her has been reduced to Rs 10 lakh. Over 10 persons have also received summons for protests relating to Aarey and Jamia. We have filed replies for about five of them. On the last date, October 15, proceedings could not be held as the officer concerned was transferred. The matter will now be heard in November. A total of 31 notices have been issued."
The notice,served to Surve had sought surety of Rs 50 lakh from one or two persons on behalf of Surve for two years. A police source said the amount was reduced to Rs 10 lakh during a hearing.
In the FIR registered at MRA Marg police station, police had identified 31 people and included another 250 unnamed protesters. This included students and activists who took out a rally from Hutatma Chowk to Gateway of India.
All the notices were signed by ACP Santosh Balke who has recently been transferred. For the same FIR, the SEM had issued notices under section 107 of the Criminal Procedure Code to nine persons. While seven persons have been issued notices for a Rs5 lakh bond each, two have been issued notices for Rs 1 lakh each.