Delhi High Court Dismisses Appeals Against Framing of Charges in J&K Terror Funding Case
||Black and White Digital News ||
||Parvinder Singh December 23,2025 ||
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a series of appeals filed by Kashmiri separatist leaders and others challenging a trial court order that framed charges against them in a Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
A Division Bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Manoj Jain held that the appeals were not maintainable under Section 21 of the National Investigation Agency Act. The Court observed that an order framing charges is an interlocutory order, and the statute expressly bars appeals against such orders passed by a Special NIA Court. In view of this legal position, the High Court declined to examine the merits of the case. A detailed judgment is awaited.
The appeals were filed by separatist leaders Masarat Alam Bhat, Shabir Ahmed Shah and Nayeem Ahmad Khan, businessman Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, and others. The Bench also rejected the appeals of Shahid Yousuf and Syed Ahmad Shakeel, sons of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin.
The case relates to allegations of terror funding and conspiracy to fuel violence and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. In March 2022, the Special NIA Court had framed charges against the accused under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The trial court had observed that the accused shared a common objective of secession and were in close association with terrorist organisations, allegedly acting under the guidance and financial support of the Pakistani establishment.
The same case also names Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed and Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, both stated to be based in Pakistan. Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front founder Yasin Malik was also charged in the matter. Malik pleaded guilty before the trial court and was sentenced to life imprisonment. The NIA’s appeal seeking the death penalty for Malik is currently pending before the Delhi High Court.
In a common judgment delivered on Tuesday, the High Court also dismissed appeals filed by several other accused in different terror-related cases, including Javed Ali, Alemla Jamir, Masasong Ao, Abdur Rehman, Md Waqar Lone, Rajkumar, Rouf Ahmad Bhat, Mateen Ahmad Bhat, Haris Nisar Langoo, Manan Dar, Hanan Gulzar Dar, Zamin Adil Bhat and Arsalan Feroze Ahenger.
Senior advocates Nitya Ramakrishnan and Tanveer Ahmed Mir, along with multiple counsel, represented the appellants in the various cases. The NIA was represented by senior advocates Sidharth Luthra and Gautam Narayan, assisted by a team of advocates.
With the dismissal of the appeals, the proceedings before the Special NIA Court will continue, and the accused will face trial on the charges framed against them under the UAPA.
