The Delhi High Court on Thursday rejected Kashmiri Separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah’s bail plea. While taking a serious view, the high court said there is overwhelming evidence, and the allegations against him appear prima facie to be true.
‘Unlawful activities can’t be ruled out’
The high court also said there are 24 FIRs against Shah of a similar nature. As JKDPF’s chairman, indulgence in unlawful activities can’t be ruled out.
Shabir Ahmad Shah has been in judicial custody since 2019. He was arrested in June 2019 in a terror funding case lodged by the NIA in 2017 against other Kashmiri separatists.
The division bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Shalinder Kaur dismissed the regular bail and other applications moved on behalf of Shah.
‘Accusations against the Appellant appear prima facie to be true’
The division bench said, “Needless to state, the Charges have been framed by the learned Trial Court, and for the purpose of adjudicating the plea of Regular Bail, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the accusations against the Appellant (Shabir Ahmad Shah) appear prima facie to be true.”
The Appellant has not been able to discharge the burden upon him to secure Bail, the division bench added.
Trial court had denied him bail
Shah had moved against the trial court order denying him bail in July 2023. The High Court also noted overwhelming evidence while deciding the appeal.
The High Court also considered that Shah is chairman of the unlawful organisation JKDPF and said he may influence the witnesses.
