Umar Khalid, Anirban Bhattacharya refuse to receive showcause notice sent by JNU

New Delhi: Sedition accused Jawaharlal Nehru University students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya have 'refused' to receive the showcause notice sent by the varsity. As per Tihar Jail sources, they have even refused to take the JNU report. Sources claim the JNU notice reached Tihar on Monday evening but the notice and copy of report was sent back to JNU on Wednesday morning by jail superintendent.

Meanwhile, JNU has extended the deadline for replying to show-cause notices served to 21 students to March 18, after an inquiry panel had found them "guilty of violating" norms in connection with the controversial February 9 event.

"The Vice Chancellor has granted an extension till March 18 for students to reply to the show cause notice," a senior university official said. The final "quantum of punishment" for the students will be decided on the basis of response to the notices, the deadline for which was till 5 PM on Wednesday.

After a high-level committee of the university, found them guilty of "violating university norms and discipline rules" show-cause notices were issued to 21 students on March 14 asking them to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them.

The report of the five-member panel which was submitted on March 11 has pointed out lapses on part of the students as well as the administration.

Taking into account the role of outsiders in the controversial event, the university panel has found Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya "guilty" of arousing communal, caste or regional feeling or creating disharmony among students.

While no specific charges have been pointed out against students union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who is facing sedition charges in connection with the event, the university has found ABVP member Saurabh Sharma "guilty" of blocking traffic on February 9, the day of the controversial event.

The university had on March 11 revoked the academic suspension of eight students including Kanhaiya after the probe panel submitted its report.

Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban were arrested on charges of sedition in connection with the programme. Kanhaiya was released on bail from Tihar on March 3 while Umar and Anirban are still in judicial custody.