The Principal District & Sessions Judge in Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir, has granted bail to eight accused in a custodial torture case under investigation by the CBI. The accused, including police officers and constables, were arrested in August and are now required to provide personal and surety bonds of Rs 1,00,000 each.
The court has imposed restrictions on the accused, preventing them from leaving the court’s territorial jurisdiction without prior approval. They are also prohibited from intimidating witnesses or tampering with evidence. Any violation of the bail conditions could result in bail cancellation.
The Supreme Court had directed the CBI to take over the investigation into the illegal detention and torture of a police constable at the Joint Interrogation Centre in Kupwara. The court not only quashed a retaliatory FIR against the victim but also ordered compensation and the arrest of involved officers.
The CBI is also tasked with probing systemic failures and institutional impunity at the Joint Interrogation Centre. The court described the case as involving “unprecedented gravity” due to the severe nature of the custodial torture inflicted on the victim.
