Anti-CAA play: No relief for jailed principal students mother

A CCTV grab of cops in uniform, questioning students. Wearing uniform during interrogation is prohibited under the Juvenile Justice Act

A district court in Bidar, Karnataka, on Tuesday extended by three days the judicial custody of the principal and the mother of a student, who are rotting in jail for 11 days because of a school play against the amended Citizenship Act.

Shaheen School headmistress Fareeda Begum, 50, and Nazbunnisa, 46, will be behind bars until February 14, the next date for hearing when the prosecutor has been told to submit their reply to their bail pleas. It will hear the case against the school management on February 17.

Narayan Ganesh, the women's advocate, argued that they have been falsely implicated in the case. "The case is a result of a political rivalry and the two women are innocent. The trial will take time and there is no reason to keep them in prison," he said. Ganesh said the prosecution was reluctant to file the reply due to a case the school management has filed in the Gulbarga High Court. "The prosecution filed the objection only after the court asked him to. Opposing the bail, the prosecution said since Fareeda is a staff member, she could threaten the students [who the police say are witnesses]. The court will give the order on February 14," he said.

The school management has challenged the sedition case in the HC and has argued that the play by the schoolchildren can't be considered as treason. Shaheen School CEO Thouseef Madikeri said the police were trying to delay the process for the women to get bail. The HC will hear the management's petition later this week. Public prosecutor Balabheem Madansure did not respond to mid-day's repeated calls and messages for a comment.

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