New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday issued a notice to separatist leader Yasin Malik, who is presently serving a life term, on a plea by the National Investigation Agency seeking death penalty for him in a terror funding case.
A bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh also issued warrants for production of Malik before it on August 9.
Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, who appeared on behalf of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), argued that “the accused indulged in terrorist and secessionist activities and should be awarded death penalty by treating the matter as a rarest of rare case.”
Mehta stated: “Malik committed the sensational killing of four IAF officers and even kidnapped the daughter of then home minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed which led to the release of four dreaded criminals who masterminded the 26/11 attack in Mumbai in 2008.”
“In view of the ground that Yasin Malik, sole respondent in this appeal, has inter alia pleaded guilty to a charge under IPC section 121 (waging war against the Government of India) which provides for an alternate death sentence, we issue notice to him… to be served through the jail superintendent,” the court ordered.
Let warrants be issued for his production on the next date of hearing, it added.
The court also issued notice to Malik on NIA’s application seeking condonation of delay in “re-filing” the present appeal.
Mehta urged the court to condone the delay, saying “technicalities” should not have a bearing in matters such as the present one.
On May 24, 2022, a trial court here had awarded life imprisonment to Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Malik after holding him guilty for various offences under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the IPC.
Malik had pleaded guilty to the charges, including those under the UAPA, and he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. (Agencies)
