SRINAGAR: A Special NIA Court in Jammu on Saturday rejected the interim bail plea of former Jammu and Kashmir Police Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Davinder Singh, who had sought temporary release to attend the religious ceremonies following the death of his father.
The court, however, granted Singh five days of custody parole on humanitarian grounds to enable him to participate in the last rites and the Akhand Paath to be held from July 27 to July 30 at his residence in Mehjoor Nagar, Srinagar.
Singh had sought 20 days of interim bail after the death of his father, Deedar Singh, on July 17, saying he needed to perform the last rites and attend the religious rituals.
Opposing the bail plea, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) submitted that Singh is facing trial in a case involving grave offences related to national security under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act and the Explosive Substances Act. It also informed the court that Singh’s regular bail appeal is pending before the High Court.
The NIA, however, said it had no objection to granting custody parole on humanitarian grounds under proper police escort, while expressing concern that interim bail could influence witnesses in the case.
Allowing the plea in part, the court said the application was being accepted “purely on humanitarian grounds” to facilitate Singh’s participation in the religious ceremonies.
The court directed the jail authorities to take Singh to Srinagar by road or train under a police escort. He will remain in custody throughout the five-day period and is required to return to Kot Bhalwal Jail, Jammu, by the evening of July 31.
The court further ordered that Singh be kept at the nearest police station while in Srinagar and be taken to his residence daily between 10 am and 4 pm under adequate security, with sufficient police personnel deployed for his custody and protection.
Devinder Singh was arrested on January 11, 2020, after police intercepted a vehicle near Qazigund on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. He was arrested along with Hizbul Mujahideen militant Naveed Babu, Altaf Ahmad Rather and advocate Irfan Shafi Mir. The case was later taken over by the NIA, which charges Singh with conspiring to facilitate militants and is currently prosecuting him before the Special NIA Court in Jammu.
