A sedition case has been registered against Rahul Gandhi, Anand Sharma, Ajay Maken, Arvind Kejriwal, Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, KC Tyagi, Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid under section 124A of the Indian Penal Code in Saroornagar Police Station in Cyberabad, Hyderabad. The case been registered on the basis of a complaint filled by a local advocate, Janardhan Goud.

The Quint is in possession of the FIR which states that on 9 February, a group of students from JNU headed by Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khalid held a ‘cultural event’ in support of Afzal Guru without any permission. Further, the complainant alleges that students shouted ‘anti-India’ slogans and that JNU has become the hub for ‘anti-national’ activities.

In his petition, Advocate Goud said Rahul Gandhi and other leaders, despite being aware that Delhi Police had registered a case against Kanhaiya on charge of sedition had visited JNU campus and knowingly supported them and hence it “amounted to sedition”. Further, he adds that that Rahul Gandhi along with Anand Sharma, Ajay Maken, Arvind Kejriwal, Sitaram Yechury, D Raja and KC Tyagi visited JNU “to support and to give solidarity to the students who have participated in protests against the nation”. The FIR then goes on to say that these politicians are “violating the constitution by supporting the anti-nationals”.

Lastly the complainant claims that while watching the news in his office, his “feelings, patriotism and sentiments were severly hurt” and hence he has registered the complaint. The court has posted the matter for hearing on March 4.