The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has objected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and legislator Waheed Para’s plea seeking relaxation in his bail conditions.
While Para has asked the court to allow him to travel to any part of the country without court permission citing his constitutional obligation as a legislator, the NIA has urged the court to dismiss the petition as the “intention of the applicant/accused is to flee from the clutches of law”.
“The said bail conditions in no way prevents the accused from discharging his constitutional duties as an elected MLA,” NIA has said in its objections filed before an NIA court in . “In the event that his presence is specifically required outside the Union Territory of J&K in furtherance of any constitutional obligation, the Hon’ble Court may consider such requests on a case-to-case basis”.
A senior leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Para is one of three legislators from the party who won the elections last year. Para represents the Pulwama assembly segment.
Para was arrested in an alleged terror case in 2020, was granted bail by the court in 2021. The court, however, put some bail conditions, which include seeking court permission to travel outside the Union Territory. As a result, Para claims he could not attend to his father, a patient who was admitted in hospital outside the UT. Para was also not allowed to attend to his nephew, who was admitted in a hospital.
Both passed away last year.
The NIA in its objections has said that Para is “not a law abiding citizen and is involved in serious offences related to national security”.
“It is submitted that trial in the instant case is being conducted expeditiously on (a)
regular basis before this Ld. Trial Court and there is strong apprehension that the applicant/ accused would misuse the liberty and may not come back to face the proceedings in relation to charge sheet that has already been filed,” NIA has said in its objections.
It further said: “Such a plea for relaxation in bail conditions raises serious concerns regarding the applicant’s intent to avoid legal proceedings and circumvent the ongoing trial… Any application seeking blanket permission to travel outside the Union Territory of J&K should be viewed as a calculated attempt to evade justice during a critical stage of the trial”.
NIA has said that Para allegedly conspired with some other accused “to raise funds for procuring arms and ammunition for the terrorists” and “extended financial support to the separatist leaders for furtherance of secessionist activities in Kashmir valley”.
The PDP, however, says that Para is being targeted for his political views and his arrest was part of the government’s crackdown on the PDP after the walked out of the coalition government with it in 2018.
