Case against Dr Kafeel not quashed: Aligarh police

Civil Lines Circle Officer Shwetabh Pandey has said that, contrary to what some reports in social media claim, the case against Dr Kafeel Khan for making provocative speeches in Aligarh Muslim University has not been quashed and sanction has been received from the High Court to proceed with his prosecution.

Aligarh: Dismissing news circulating in the social media, Civil Lines Circle Officer Shwetabh Pandey has said that approval has been received from the High Court for prosecution against Dr Kafeel Khan for making provocative statements in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Although Dr Kafeel, who was charged with making inflammatory statements among students in AMU, got relief from the High Court, the police got approval for prosecution against Dr Kafeel in May itself, according to Pandey. However, due to Dr. Kafeel's non-appearance in the court, neither have the charges been framed nor has the trial of the case started.

Dr Kafeel met students of AMU December 12, 2019, following which the anti-CAA-NRC agitation took a serious turn. Police believe that his speech only spoiled the atmosphere and registered a case against him at the Civil Lines police station for making inflammatory speech. UP STF arrested him January 30 from Mumbai airport. Dr Kafeel was booked under Sections 153 (a), 153 (b), 109, 505 (2) of the IPC.

At the same time, the Aligarh administration imposed the National Security Act (NSA) on Dr. Kafeel citing that the disturbance was caused by his speech. However, the High Court later canceled the charges under NSA, and he was released from jail.

Following his release, Dr Kafeel had filed a petition in the High Court regarding the case and chargesheet filed against him at te Civil Lines police station. In the petition, he stated that without the sanction of prosecution, the trial cannot be started. The court accepted his petition. But, now the district police says that the sanction for prosecution has been received in the month of May itself and that Dr Kafeel has benefited from shortcomings in the technical process of the police.

Circle Officer Pandey has also dismissed the news circulating in social media that the case registered against Dr Kafeel in 2019 has been canceled by the High Court. He said that no case has been canceled and taking into cognizance the sanction for prosecution, the process will now be taken forward. Dr Kafeel will again be presented before the chief judicial magistrate for further legal proceedings.