Millat Times Desk

11 August 2026 (Publish: 06:04 AM IST)

0

Mumbai Police have arrested a former student of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) for allegedly raising slogans in support of jailed activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, The Indian Express reported.

Abhirup Paul was arrested hours after a Mumbai court rejected anticipatory bail pleas filed by him and another TISS student, Scroll.in reported. The two were also accused of possessing downloaded books and other material that prosecutors said reflected Maoist ideology.

Paul was produced before a magistrate after his arrest, The Indian Express reported. Police sought 10 days of custody, but the court remanded him to custody until Monday.

Seven other people booked in connection with the case were granted anticipatory bail on Friday. They had attended a campus event in October marking the death anniversary of former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba.

Saibaba, who had more than 90% disability and used a wheelchair, spent more than seven years in prison over allegations of links with Maoists. The Bombay High Court acquitted him in March 2024 and he was released. He died in Hyderabad in October 2024 from post-operative complications, seven months after his acquittal.

The court said that commemorating Saibaba was not in itself unlawful. However, it said allegations that the students had raised slogans supporting Khalid and Imam, together with material recovered from their electronic devices, weighed against granting anticipatory bail.

Khalid and Imam have spent more than five years in jail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act over allegations that they were involved in a conspiracy linked to the 2020 Delhi riots.

Their trial has yet to begin and courts have repeatedly rejected their pleas for regular bail.

The case stems from an event held at TISS in October, when students gathered on campus to light candles and put up posters commemorating Saibaba’s death anniversary.

Police registered the case following a complaint by the institute administration. The first information report included charges relating to causing prejudice against the nation, promoting enmity between groups and participating in an unlawful assembly, among others.