HC reserves decision on CBI plea for shifting Rubaiya case

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday reserved its decision in an application moved by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking vacation of the stay on the trial and shifting of the proceedings to Jammu in the Rubaiya Sayeed’s kidnapping case.

Ishfaq Tantry

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 11

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday reserved its decision in an application moved by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking vacation of the stay on the trial and shifting of the proceedings to Jammu in the Rubaiya Sayeed’s kidnapping case. JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik and 10 others, including Javaid Ahmad Mir and Showkat Bakshi, are accused in the case.

The matter was listed before Chief Justice Gita Mittal, who after hearing both sides reserved the final decision in the matter.

While the CBI was represented by the Assistant Solicitor General, the other side was represented by senior lawyers Zaffar Shah and Zaffar Qureshi, who opposed the transfer of the proceedings to the Jammu wing of the High Court.

Acting on a writ petition, the High Court had in 2009 stayed the trial against Yasin and others in the case before a TADA court in Jammu, where earlier a challan was produced by the Investigating agency. However, the CBI now wants that the petition and the proceedings be shifted to Jammu.

On December 8, 1989, Rubaiya, daughter of the then Union Home Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, was kidnapped in Srinagar. The kidnappers had demanded release of 13 militants in exchange for Rubaiya.

The then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah did not want to capitulate. However, the Central government accepted their demands and freed the jailed militants.

In 1999, three JKLF members Showkat Ahmed Bakshi, Manzoor Ahmed Sofi and Mohammad Iqbal Gandroo were granted bail in the case.

Probe agency wants trial in Jammu

Acting on a writ petition, the High Court had in 2009 stayed the trial against Yasin and others in the case before a TADA court in Jammu, where earlier a challan was produced by the Investigating agency. However, the CBI now wants that the petition and the proceedings be shifted to Jammu
In 1999, three JKLF members Showkat Ahmed Bakshi, Manzoor Ahmed Sofi and Mohammad Iqbal Gandroo were granted bail in the case