Delhi HC dismisses Masarat Alam, Shabir Shah pleas in J&K Terror Funding Case

New Delhi, Dec 23: The Delhi High Court has dismissed appeals filed by Kashmiri separatist leaders Masarat Alam Bhat and Shabir Ahmed Shah, among others, challenging a trial court order framing charges against them in a Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

A Division Bench comprising Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain held that the appeals were not maintainable under Section 21 of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act, which bars appeals against interlocutory orders, including orders on charge, passed by a Special NIA Court, reported Bar and Bench.

Apart from Alam and Shah, the rejected appeals were filed by Nayeem Ahmad Khan, businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin’s sons, Shahid Yousuf and Syed Ahmad Shakeel. A detailed judgment is awaited.

The Special NIA Court, in March 2022, had framed charges against the accused, observing that they shared a common objective of secession and were in close association with terrorist organisations, allegedly operating under the guidance and funding of the Pakistani establishment.

In the same case, charges were also framed against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin and JKLF founder Yasin Malik. While Saeed and Salahuddin are stated to be in Pakistan, Malik pleaded guilty and was awarded a life sentence. The NIA’s appeal seeking the death penalty for Malik is pending before the Delhi High Court.

In a common judgment delivered on Tuesday, the High Court also dismissed similar appeals filed by several other accused in different terror-related cases.