SC Grants Bail To Accused In UAPA Case Linked To Alleged ‘Hybrid’ Terror Recruitment

New Delhi, May 22: The Supreme Court of India on Friday granted bail to Suhail Ahmad Thokar, an accused in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act related to alleged recruitment of “hybrid” terrorists and radicalization of youth in Jammu and Kashmir.

Thokar was arrested on October 20, 2021, in a case probed by the National Investigation Agency for alleged involvement with proscribed terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi passed the order while hearing his appeal against a 2023 Delhi High Court decision that had denied him bail.

The apex court granted relief considering the length of his custody and the likelihood that the trial would take considerable time to conclude. It directed that he be released on bail subject to furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the special NIA court in Delhi.

According to the prosecution, the accused was part of a larger conspiracy involving terrorist organizations and their Pakistan-based handlers aimed at radicalizing vulnerable youth in the Kashmir Valley after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

The case alleged that these groups provided logistical and operational support to execute acts of terrorism in the region.

However, the defence argued before the courts that there was no substantial evidence linking Thokar to any criminal conspiracy and that nothing incriminating had been recovered from his possession.

The Supreme Court’s decision comes after considering his prolonged detention and the expected delay in the completion of the trial. (Agencies)