Kanhaiya Kumar released from Tihar jail, reaches JNU

New Delhi: JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, whose arrest on charges of sedition three weeks back had triggered a massive outcry, was released on Thursday from Tihar jail amid celebrations by his supporters.

He was granted interim bail for six months by the Delhi High Court yesterday on condition that he will cooperate in the ongoing investigation and has to present himself before the police as and when required.

Kumar was released at around 6.30 pm, following which a team of officials of Delhi Police's west district escorted him till one point from where a South district police team took him to the JNU campus, a police source said.

Read: Police calls for vigil against clashes post Kanhaiya Kumar's release

Kanhaiya was arrested on February 12 in connection with an event on JNU campus on to protest the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru during which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised.

The student leader was greeted with loud cheers by his supporters when he came out of Tihar Jail. Celebrations also erupted on the JNU campus.

A city court issued Kanhaiya's release order after he furnished a bail bond.

Read: No evidence Kanhaiya Kumar made anti-national speech: Delhi govt report

Jail officials said the papers for the release of the JNU student leader were received at around 5 pm. Some JNU teachers were waiting for him at the gate of the jail when he was released about one-and-a-half-hours later.

"He was escorted to the jail gate and handed over to some teachers and other persons present there," they said.

Earlier in the day, police mounted heavy security outside the Jawaharlal Nehru University gates where a group was spotted protesting against Kumar.

Apprehending "clashes" following Kumar's release, police issued an 'advisory' to all district, traffic and PCR units asking them to maintain a strict vigil, especially in and around the JNU and Delhi University campuses.

"The advisory says that in case Kumar gets bail, there is a possibility that he may visit places like Jantar Mantar, JNU and DU with a large number of his supporters, including students' groups like AISF and AISA and members of some political parties," a police source said.

"It says that ABVP and other right wing groups, including some political leaders, may oppose such gatherings and there is a possibility of clashes among the groups.”

"In view of the sensitivity and gravity of the matter, a sharp vigil by local police is recommended to avoid any untoward incident," he said.

The advisory was first issued when police opposed Kumar's bail plea in the high court. It was reissued yesterday, the source added.

Earlier today, the Delhi government inquiry committee in its report stated that it has not found any evidence on Kanhaiya Kumar making anti-national speech.