Delhi court orders release of Kashmir separatist leader Shabir Shah

Srinagar, Aug 27: A court in New Delhi on Tuesday ordered the release of Kashmiri separatist leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah in a money laundering case, which the authorities said was connected to terror funding.

After noting that Shah has served the maximum sentence of seven years prescribed for the offence under Section-3 of PMLA, Additional Sessions Judge, Dheeraj Mor of Patiala House Courts passed the order of Shah's release, Live Law reported.

The court noted that Shah was in continuous custody in the case from July 26, 2017, and since then, more than 7 years have passed.

“Accordingly, in view of proviso to Section 436A CrPC, he is entitled to be released in this case. Therefore, he is directed to be released from judicial custody in this case. Release warrants be issued. He be released forthwith, if not required in any other case,” the court said.

The matter will now be heard on October 23 for arguments on charge.

The judge had granted statutory bail to Shah in June. It was his case that he had already suffered more than half of the period of the maximum punishment prescribed in the offence of money laundering.

“Even if he is granted bail in this case, he is not likely to be released from the jail in the other said offences before 24.07.2024 i.e. the date on which the maximum punishment of 07 years in the present case expires for him as an under-trial prisoner,” the court had said.