Rights activist Seema Azad to appeal conviction at High Court

By Abu Zafar 6/9/12, Newzfirst

NEW DELHI — Rights activists Seema Azad and her husband, Vishwa Vijay, who were Friday sentenced by a court in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, to life imprisonment for alleged seditious activities, will appeal their conviction at the high court.

“My sister and her husband have been convicted on the basis false and fabricated evidence,” Azad’s sister, Suman, told Newzfirst hours after Sessions Judge Anil Kumar announced his ruling. “We are going to appeal against the ruling.”

Allahabad Police had arrested the husband-wife duo on February 8, 2010 and tried under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for alleged Maoist activities.

The prosecution cited as evidence a book the police allegedly found on the couple at the time of their arrest. The police claimed the book linked them to the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist).

The couple has denied the charge. The court denied them bail.