The Bombay High Court on August 14 granted interim protection from arrest to former Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) student Kamakhya Prasad Das, who is facing allegations concerning slogans raised during an unauthorised campus gathering.
Justice Prafulla Khubalkar held that, at this stage, custodial interrogation was not necessary as the applicant’s mobile phone and laptop had already been seized by the investigating agency.
Background of the Case
The case arose from an FIR registered at Trombay Police Station following a complaint by the TISS Registrar. The prosecution alleged that students had gathered on October 12, 2025, to pay homage to former Delhi University professor G.N. Saibaba.
According to the prosecution, the gathering also involved revolutionary poetry and slogans seeking the release of jailed activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.
Das had approached the High Court after a Mumbai Sessions Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea. His counsel, Senior Advocate Mihir Desai, submitted that Das had cooperated with the investigation and had already appeared before the investigating agency several times.
The prosecution opposed the plea, alleging that electronic material recovered from Das’s devices required further investigation and that the case involved a larger conspiracy.
Court’s Observation
After considering the rival submissions, Justice Khubalkar noted that the electronic devices had already been seized.
The Court observed,
“At this stage, custodial interrogation need not be insisted upon.”
It consequently continued the interim protection earlier granted by the trial court, subject to conditions.
Decision
The High Court directed Das to appear before the concerned police station on August 19 and 24 between 10 am and 2 pm and to cooperate with the investigating agency whenever called.
Subject to these conditions, the Court ordered that Das shall not be arrested until the next date of hearing on August 31.
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