NIA opposes Waheed Para’s plea for Delhi visit

Srinagar, Jan 17: People’s Democratic Party leader, Waheed Ur Rehman Para, accused of terror charges has been refused permission he had sought to accompany his ailing  nephew at India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said that Para would “misuse the liberty and may not come back to face the proceedings.”

Despite being allowed bail, Waheed requires court permission to travel outside Jammu and Kashmir as per his bail conditions. His father, Ghulam Ahmad Para, is undergoing cancer treatment at the Tata Institute in Mumbai, and his seven-year-old nephew is hospitalised at AIIMS with a severe illness.

The NIA, in its objection filed before the court, contended that Waheed's application is not maintainable and should be dismissed. The agency expressed concerns that Waheed's request to travel may be an attempt to evade legal proceedings, stating, "There is a strong apprehension that the applicant/accused would misuse the liberty and may not come back to face the proceedings in relation to the charge sheet that has already been filed."

Waheed, who served as secretary of the sports council, faced arrest by the NIA in 2019.

Despite submitting medical records for his nephew's condition, the NIA asserted that it cannot verify them in a short span. The agency suggested that the well-being of the nephew could be adequately addressed by immediate family members.

Highlighting the frequency of Waheed's travel requests, the NIA raised concerns that these applications may be perceived as a calculated strategy to evade justice. Waheed had previously sought permission to travel to Mumbai to accompany his father.

The NIA also mentioned Waheed's earlier attempt to travel to the United States for a fellowship programme, which he did not pursue eventually. His passport, held by the NIA under bail conditions, was later revoked by the Regional Passport Officer in Srinagar, citing it as a threat to the security of the state.