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The National Investigation Agency opposed Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah's bail plea in a terror funding case. Shah faces allegations of facilitating separatist movements in Jammu and Kashmir. While opposing the bail plea  in Supreme Court on Friday, NIA strongly objected to the stand that India and Jammu and Kashmir are 'separate entities.'

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the NIA, took umbrage at the stand usually adopted by the separatists."Before the Supreme Court of India, nobody can say Indian State and Jammu and Kashmir. I am making an issue out of it," Mehta told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.

 

In a highly charged session on Friday, the Supreme Court revisited the contentious bail plea of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah, who faces terror funding allegations. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) strongly objected to separatist claims that India and Jammu and Kashmir are distinct entities.

Appearing for the NIA, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta emphasized that the Indian State and Jammu and Kashmir cannot be perceived as separate in the eyes of the law. Shah's defense cited significant physical hardships due to his lengthy incarceration, leading to a plea for expedited hearings, given his deteriorating health.

 

The session was marked by scrutiny over the 24 active cases against Shah, which the high court had considered when denying bail. The Supreme Court scheduled further discussions for November 10, pressing the NIA to submit further details about Shah's custodial circumstances in the interim.

 

The Supreme Court will hear the case on November 10, following arguments on his long incarceration and deteriorating health.

Meanwhile at the political level, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's plea for Shabir Shah involves urging the Indian central government to take a "humanitarian view" of his deteriorating health and provide him with proper medical care, which includes ensuring he receives necessary surgeries for his reported prostate cancer and is allowed access to his family during his treatment. 

 

The appeal follows an emotional plea from Shah's daughter, Sehar Shabir, highlighting her father's deteriorating health and lack of access to medical care, and stressing that she and her family are seeking compassion and justice, not a political agenda.  Shabir Shah is reportedly suffering from a life-threatening illness, including prostate cancer, and is in urgent need of surgery.