Allahabad High Court cleared Dr Kafeel Khan of NSA charges, orders immediate release

The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday, 1 September, revoked the National Security Act (NSA) charges against Dr Kafeel Khan, and directed his immediate release.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Govind Mathur and Justice Saumitra Dayal Singh, passed the order on a petition filed by Khan's mother Nuzhat Parveen, who sought for his release on grounds that he had been detained illegally.

Dr Khan has been lodged in Mathura Jail for an allegedly provocative speech at the Aligarh Muslim University in the backdrop of protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier extended his detention by three months till November 13.

In its last hearing, the HC bench adjourned the matter as parties prayed to file additional documents and the court wanted to pursue original records of the proceedings under the NSA, resulting in the detention of Khan and further extension of the same.

The first information report, filed on December 13, said that Khan had attempted to vitiate the peaceful ambiance at the university and disturb communal harmony.

The High Court also found prima facie that Khan’s speech “does not disclose any effort to promote hatred or violence”.