Delhi court orders Shabbir Shah’s release in one fake case, remains imprisoned in others
New: A Delhi court has ordered release of senior APHC leader Shabbir Ahmad Shah in one of the three fake cases under which he has been detained in the Indian capital.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Shabbir Shah will continue to remain in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail in the two other cases.
Additional Sessions Judge Dheeraj Mor of Patiala House Courts ordered release of Shabbir Shah from a fake money laundering case, observing that he has been in continuous custody since July 26, 2017. The judge noted that the maximum punishment for the alleged offence is seven years, and his detention has already surpassed this period.
Accordingly, he is entitled to be released in this case, the judge said. “Therefore, he is directed to be released from judicial custody in this case. Release warrants be issued. He be released forthwith, if not required in any other case,” the court said.
However, Shabbir Shah will remain imprisoned in connection with the other two fake cases, which have been pursued by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), two Indian agencies notorious for their controversial handling of cases against Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders and activists.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 23, when arguments will be presented on charges related to the remaining cases.
The ongoing detention of Shabbir Shah in the fake cases is part of a larger pattern of targeting Kashmiris, highlighting the severe and often unjust measures employed by Indian authorities against those advocating for the rights and self-determination of the Kashmiri people.
