The National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposed the request of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader and MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para to soften the bail conditions, saying “He is not a citizen who follows the law” and has been framed against him in crimes related to ‘national security’ against him.
The NIA gave a detailed description of the case in response to the four-page plea on the request of the request of the request for softening in bail conditions to allow him to go out of Jammu and Kashmir and said that the petition needs to be dismissed as the accused can run away from the grip of the law.
The NIA court granted bail to the mercury, but directed him not to leave the Union Territory without the permission of the court. PDP MLA Para was first arrested by the NIA on 25 November 2020 and he was granted bail on 9 January 2021. However, he was not released from Jammu jail.
The mercury was arrested by the criminal investigation (Kashmir) branch of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which has now been converted into the State Investigation Agency (SIA). Later he was granted bail by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in 2022.
The PDP MLA recently visited the NIA’s special court here. Para filed a petition in a special court seeking permission to travel out of Jammu and Kashmir for its constitutional duties but to travel within the country. However, the NIA said that the existing conditions of bail do not stop the accused from performing their duties as an MLA in any way.
The NIA said, “The accused Waheed-ur-Rehman is not a citizen who follows the mercury law and has serious allegations affecting national security.” The agency said, “Any application for permission to travel outside the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir should be seen as a planned effort during the important phase of the case.”
The NIA argued that any type of exemption in bail conditions would create serious concerns about the intention of avoiding mercury’s legal proceedings and bypassing the ongoing trial.
The agency said, “Relief can pose a big risk of absconding the accused.” Para was granted bail by the High Court in 2022 after 18 months in a case related to terrorism. The High Court had said in the order that the evidence collected by the prosecution is incomplete, due to which they cannot be denied relief.
