Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, May 22 

The Supreme Court on Friday granted bail to Suhail Ahmad Thokar, who was arrested in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act over allegations of conspiring with banned militant groups to recruit “hybrid” militants, radicalise youth and carry out militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi passed the order while hearing Thokar’s appeal against a September 2023 Delhi High Court order rejecting his bail plea in the case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Thokar was arrested on October 20, 2021.

The court granted him bail after taking into account the period he had already spent in custody and noting that the trial was likely to take time to conclude.

The bench directed that Thokar be released on bail upon furnishing a bail bond to the satisfaction of the special NIA court in Delhi.

Thokar had earlier challenged a January 2023 trial court order denying him bail in the case registered under provisions of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code and the UAPA.

According to the prosecution, the case stems from intelligence inputs regarding an alleged larger conspiracy developing in the Kashmir Valley following the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, when the Centre revoked the special status of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Investigators alleged that banned outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, along with handlers and facilitators based in Pakistan, were involved in influencing and radicalising local youth and recruiting “hybrid” militants to carry out attacks.

The prosecution alleged that Thokar played an active role in providing shelter to members of militant organisations and their associates.

During arguments before the Delhi High Court, Thokar’s counsel had said there was no substantive material linking him to any criminal conspiracy involving the banned outfits and argued that nothing incriminating had been recovered from his possession.

Opposing the plea, the NIA had told the high court that the investigation showed Thokar was actively involved in arranging logistical support for militants operating in Kashmir.