Police taking legal advice, weighing political fallout

Throughout Monday evening news channels kept claiming that Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani and author-turned-activist Arundhati Roy may be tried for sedition. In the meantime, the Delhi Police was caught up in a dilemma whether to move against the separatist leader and the Naxal sympathiser or not.


separate ways: Home Ministry has given Delhi police go-ahead to try
Geelani and Roy for sedition.

Additional Commissioner of Police Shankar Dash said, "Till now, no case has been registered and nothing else can be said about it at this point of time." However, the Union Home Ministry has given the Delhi Police go-ahead to try Geelani and Roy for sedition.

Sources in the Delhi Police also confirmed that legal advisors have also cleared registration of a case under Section 124 of the IPC which applies cases where disaffection against the State is advocated.

The police are now mulling over possible ramifications, if they proceed against the duo may also seek political advice. Geelani had reiterated his secessionist stand on Jammu and Kashmir at a seminar "Azaadi - the only way" at LTG auditorium in New Delhi on Sunday. Apart from Arundhati Roy, pro-Maoist leader Vara Vara Rao attended the meeting, organised by Prof SAR Geelani, who was named in the Parliament attack case.