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The Supreme Court granted bail to Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in a money laundering case linked to alleged terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir.
The court noted that Shah was in custody for six years and 10 months in the case in which the maximum punishment was seven years. (File image)
The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah in a money laundering case related to alleged terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir.
A bail plea was filed by Shabir Ahmad Shah, who is currently lodged in jail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly conspiring to secede Jammu and Kashmir from India.
A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta heard the petition and granted him bail.
Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for Shah, submitted his rejoinder arguments. He argued that the state has been deliberately evasive regarding the specifics of Shah’s prolonged detention. Gonsalves pointed out that the NIA’s counter-affidavit notably omitted details of Shah’s extensive detention periods.
Earlier in September 2025, the top court dismissed the bail plea. It had also sought the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) response on Shah’s plea challenging the Delhi High Court’s order within two weeks.
What’s The Case?
The case dates back to June 4, 2019, when Shah was arrested by the NIA, after a case was filed against 12 people for allegedly conspiring to raise and collect funds for causing disruption by way of pelting stones, damaging public property and conspiring to wage war against the Government of India.
Earlier, the High Court had observed that while the Constitution gives freedom of speech and expression to people, it also places reasonable restrictions such as public order, decency, morality, or incitement to an offence.
“This right cannot be misused under the garb of carrying out rallies wherein a person uses inflammatory speeches or instigates the public to commit unlawful activities detrimental to the interest and integrity of the country,” the high court had said.
Shah’s bail plea was dismissed by the High Court on July 7, 2023, along with his plea seeking “house arrest.”
It is alleged that Shah has played a “substantial role” in facilitating a separatist or militant movement in Jammu and Kashmir by inciting and instigating the general public to sloganeering in support of the secession of J-K; paying tribute to the family of slain terrorists or militants by eulogising them as “martyrs”; receiving money through hawala transactions and raising funds through LoC trade, which were allegedly used to fuel subversive and militant activities in J-K.
March 12, 2026, 12:01 IST
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