The Bombay High Court has granted protection from arrest to Kamakhya Prasad Das, a former student of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), who was booked for raising slogans calling for the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam. Justice Prafulla Khubalkar agreed to hear Mr. Das’s plea seeking anticipatory bail on August 31 and provided him protection from arrest until then.
The case against Mr. Das and several other students was lodged by the Mumbai Police in October 2025 for participating in an event to pay homage to GN Saibaba. During the event, the students read out Saibaba’s poems and raised slogans for the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, both of whom are facing trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The lower court had earlier denied anticipatory bail to Mr. Das and another student, Abhirup Paul, while granting anticipatory bail to five other students. The lower court judge observed that the Supreme Court had rejected bail applications of Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, and as students, the accused were expected to respect the law of the land. However, the students argued that GN Saibaba had been acquitted in the UAPA case against him and contended that no offence was made out merely by raising slogans for the release of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.
The Bombay High Court’s decision to grant interim protection marks a significant development in the case, as Mr. Das awaits the full hearing of his anticipatory bail application later this month. The case, titled Kamakhiya Prasad Das v/s State of Maharashtra, will now be heard by the Bombay High Court on August 31, with the interim protection from arrest remaining in force for Das until that date.
Justice Khubalkar noted that the case required consideration and scheduled the matter for further hearing later this month. The interim protection from arrest will remain in effect until the next hearing date.
