Delhi/Srinagar, Aug 27 (Indian Express): A Delhi court has ordered the release of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah from judicial custody in a money laundering case related to terror funding.
According to reports by Live Law, as cited by Indian Express, the decision was made by Additional Sessions Judge Dheeraj Mor at Patiala House Courts. Shah had been in continuous custody since July 26, 2017. The court noted that Shah had already served the maximum sentence of seven years prescribed under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
“In view of the proviso to Section 436A of the CrPC, he is entitled to be released in this case. Therefore, he is directed to be released from judicial custody. Release warrants be issued. He be released forthwith, if not required in any other case,” the court stated.
The matter is set to be revisited on October 23. In June, Shah had been granted statutory bail after arguing that he had already served more than half of the maximum sentence for the offense.
Despite this ruling, the court noted that even with bail granted for other offenses, Shah would not be released from jail before July 24, 2024, the date marking the maximum sentence duration.
This report is based on inputs from Live Law and is corroborated by Indian Express.