The jailed AAP MLA Mehraj Malik on Monday received major relief, as the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh Court has restrained the police from pressing charges against him.
The High Court, however, directed the police authorities to continue the investigation in the case.
A case under Section 356 (2) (assault with intent to dishonour), Section 79 (obstructing a public servant), and Section 351 (2) (use of force to deter a public servant) came up for hearing before Justice Rajesh Sekhri.
After receiving the complaint, Justice Rajesh Sekhri issued a notice to the respondents, and the Court directed them to file their objections within a time frame of four weeks. The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 31.
Earlier, the district administration of Doda prepared a dossier on Malik, claiming that the Aam Aadmi Party lawmaker threatened government officials during the operation, an initiative aimed at countering attempts to create communal and regional divides.
Mehraj is known for his vocal and assertive image and uprightness in Doda and is very popular for his outspoken personality among the youth, like PDP leader Waheed Parra and MP Srinagar Aga Mehdi Ruhullah in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehraj remains a figure of debate, often surrounded by controversies in recent times, and is feared by government and administrative officials for his outspoken and at times aggressive tone.
Meanwhile, the dossier prepared by the SSP Police Doda and forwarded to the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department by Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh described Malik as a “history-sheeter” and “habitual offender.”
It is alleged that he had multiple FIRs registered against him across different police stations in the Union Territory for acts, including forcibly locking government offices and verbally attacking public servants.
The case has turned into a mainstream issue in Jammu and Kashmir politics, as well as the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters in New Delhi, as several party leaders, including Sanjay Singh, Bhagwant Mann and Chief Arvind Kejriwal, expressed support and vowed to fight against the district administration and DC Doda over what they believe is a politically motivated case against Mehraj.
Similar verbal confrontations have been witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir, as the ruling dispensation has urged the Prime Minister and Home Minister to scrap the PSA on Mehraj.
While PDP lawmaker Waheed Parra even accused the J&K Assembly Secretariat of adopting a softer stance over the issue.
He questioned, if a sitting MLA is booked under PSA, what will stop the administration from locking up other lawmakers under the guise of such controversial provisions?
Also Read: AAP forms legal team to fight J&K MLA's detention
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