SRINAGAR: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday declined to stay the bail granted to Kashmiri human rights activist Khurram Parvez and journalist Irfan Mehraj in a 2020 terror funding case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), while imposing additional conditions on their release.
A Division Bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Vikas Mahajan observed that although the allegations against the two accused were “extremely serious”, there was no reason at this stage to suspend the trial court’s bail order, which had already imposed stringent restrictions.
However, the High Court directed that additional bail conditions be imposed. It also noted that the trial court’s order lacked detailed findings and said the issue required further consideration.
“The absence of findings in the trial court order requires consideration of this Court,” the Bench observed. It further directed that the precedents relied upon by the trial court should not be cited in other cases as they are under the High Court’s consideration.
The matter has been listed for detailed hearing in August.
On July 18, Principal District and Sessions Judge Pitamber Dutt of Patiala House Courts granted bail to Parvez and Mehraj in the 2020 UAPA case. The order, coupled with bail already granted to Parvez by the Delhi High Court in a separate 2021 case, paved the way for his release from custody.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) challenged the trial court’s order before the High Court, which issued notices to Parvez and Mehraj on July 20.
Parvez, coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), has been in NIA custody since November 2021. He was initially arrested in a 2021 UAPA case and was formally arrested again in March 2023 in connection with the 2020 FIR alleging that NGOs, trusts and societies in Jammu and Kashmir diverted funds collected for charitable activities to support banned militant organisations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.
The NIA has also alleged that Parvez provided material support to protesters during the 2016 Kashmir unrest. He has denied all the allegations.
(With inputs from Bar and Bench)
