Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 19: The Special Judge (NIA Cases), Jammu, Prem Sagar, on Wednesday rejected the second regular bail plea of Abdul Rashid of Amrohi, Tangdhar (Kupwara) in an NIA case involving allegations of cross-border narcotics trafficking and terror-funding links. Rashid, arrested in April 2021, has been in custody for nearly four years, and is facing trial in RC No. 03/2020/NIA/JMU for offences under the NDPS Act, UAPA and IPC, including conspiracy provisions.
The bail application was argued by Advocates Tanisha and Umar A. Andrabi, while SPP K.S. Pathania and PP Chandan Kumar Singh represented the NIA.
In the plea, the defence maintained that Rashid was falsely implicated and pointed out that his earlier regular bail application had been dismissed on January 19, 2024, while charges were framed on November 15, 2023.
The defence also referred to interim bail granted for 20 days in December 2023 due to the death of his father, and argued that witnesses examined so far had not supported the prosecution case against him, besides citing prolonged incarceration and the right to speedy trial.
The prosecution, however, opposed bail, arguing that statutory bars under Section 43-D(5) of UAPA and Section 37 of the NDPS Act applied, and that the accused could flee or influence witnesses if released.
The court noted that the trial was underway; as per the order, 14 witnesses (including an approver) have been examined, while other key witnesses are yet to depose.
Rejecting the plea, the court observed that the material on record indicated the applicant’s alleged involvement in activities with serious societal impact, and held that releasing him at this stage could affect the course of justice, including the possibility of influencing crucial witnesses.
The bail application was accordingly dismissed on January 15, 2026.
The case traces its origin to the arrest of co-accused Abdul Momin Peer at Kairo Bridge on June 11, 2020, when police claimed to have recovered Rs 20 lakh in cash and six packets of heroin from a vehicle, leading to registration of FIR No. 183/2020 at Police Station Handwara under the NDPS Act.
Investigators later arraigned additional accused, alleging procurement, transport, sale of narcotics and generation of funds, which were allegedly routed to terrorists with the help of OGWs, the order records. (JNF) |
