New Delhi, Dec 11,: The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned to January 7 the hearing on Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah’s plea seeking bail in a funding case. The matter came up before a Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, which is examining Shah’s challenge to a Delhi High Court order denying him bail.
Shah was arrested in June 2019 and has been accused by the National Investigation Agency of playing a central role in strengthening separatist networks in Jammu and Kashmir. The NIA has alleged that he received funds through hawala channels and Line of Control trade to support subversive and militant activities. His name was included in the second supplementary charge sheet filed on October 4, 2019.
The family sources said that the counsel for the NIA requested that the proceedings be deferred to January, informing the court that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was unavailable due to a part-heard matter before another Bench. The request was opposed by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Shah, who urged the court to list the case next week instead of granting a long adjournment.
The Bench questioned the need for a delay of nearly a month and remarked that the plea sought bail and had been pending for a considerable time. After brief submissions, the court posted the matter for hearing on January 7 and cautioned that no further adjournment would be granted. [KNT]
