TISS student quizzed for 5 hours in sedition case
MUMBAI: Twenty-two-year-old student of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Kris Chudawala was questioned for approximately five hours on Thursday by Azad Maidan police. Chudawala, a trans-identified student whose name given at birth is Urvashi, has been charged with sedition for allegedly raising objectionable slogans at an event held in the city earlier in the month.
On February 11, the Bombay HC had granted Chudawala protection from arrest. Chudawala was told to report to Azad Maidan police station on Wednesday, Thursday and whenever else police officials require.
On Wednesday, the sessions court granted anticipatory bail to two TISS students who had also been charged with sedition for attending the same event that Chudawala had. Previously, the sessions court had denied anticipatory bail to Chudawala.
The police said Chudawala was cooperating with the investigation.
“On Wednesday, they [Chudawala] came to Azad Maidan police and gave their statement. The police seized their mobile phone and took their proper address as per their documents,” said an officer from Azad Maidan police station.
On Thursday, Chudawala arrived at the police station with their mother and lawyer at 11am and was questioned till 4.15pm. The police said Chudawala’s email and social media accounts were also being scrutinised.
Chudawala was charged with sedition on February 3 on the basis of a video from an event held in Mumbai that was circulated on social media. In it, Chudawala allegedly raised objectionable slogans in favour of Sharjeel Imam, a student who has been arrested for sedition in Delhi.