High court dismisses pleas challenging framing of charges in terror funding case against Kashmiri separatists

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Tuesday dismissed a batch of petitions by Kashmiri separatist leaders and others challenging a trial court order framing charges against them under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a terror funding case.

A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain rejected the appeals by Masarat Alam Bhat, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Nayeem Ahmad Khan, businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, and other accused persons, including the two sons of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin --- Shahid Yousuf and Syed Ahmad Shakeel.

While a detailed copy of the verdict is awaited, HC noted that the appeals were not maintainable since they challenged an “interlocutory order”. Under section 21 of the NIA Act, such orders can’t be challenged, it said.

While Shahid Yousuf was arrested in Oct 2017, his brother Shakeel was arrested by NIA on Aug 30, 2018, from his Srinagar residence in connection with a terror funding case filed in 2011. According to NIA, the brothers acted as key conduits for channelling funds from Pakistan-based Hizbul operatives to sleeper cells and over-ground workers in Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of India. The chargesheet filed in the case alleges the accused received hawala remittances routed through Dubai and Nepal, which were then used to procure arms and ammunition, and for logistics for terrorist activities, including attacks on security forces.

The terror probe agency said Yousuf was arrested on the allegations of receiving funds from Hizbul Mujahideen from abroad and was chargesheeted in 2018.

It said Shakeel received money through Western Union from absconding accused Aijaz Ahmad Bhat, and his name also surfaced in raising, receiving and collecting funds from the terrorist organisation through cadres from Saudi Arabia.

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