The Supreme Court granted bail to Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmed Shah in a terror funding case. Shah, aged 74, had been in custody for over six years, citing the slow progress of the trial with only 15 out of about 400 witnesses examined. He challenged the Delhi High Court’s rejection of his bail plea.
Shah’s bail application was earlier rejected by the Delhi High Court, which raised concerns about the seriousness of the allegations against him. The High Court noted the potential risks of him influencing witnesses or engaging in similar activities.
According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Shah allegedly played a significant role in strengthening separatist networks in Jammu and Kashmir. He was accused of receiving funds through hawala channels and Line of Control (LoC) trade to support subversive and militant activities.
Shah’s name was included in the second supplementary charge sheet filed by the NIA in October 2019. The case against him, as argued by his counsel, was based on a single speech, emphasizing his prolonged detention. The NIA, however, contended that Shah and others were involved in funding street protests to disrupt the administration and support separatist activities.
In a previous hearing, the Supreme Court had declined to grant Shah immediate release on interim bail for medical reasons back in September 2025. The Court sought the NIA’s response on his bail plea at that time, expressing reservations about the urgency of his health condition.
