16 May 2024: A Srinagar court has granted bail to journalist Asif Sultan after 72 days of detention, stating that he was held “without any valid reason.” Sultan, who had been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) since 2022 in Uttar Pradesh’s Ambedkar Nagar jail, was arrested upon his return to Srinagar.
The ruling, issued by Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Gandotra on May 10, declared Sultan innocent, asserting that he had not committed any offense. The court criticized Sultan’s arrest under the recently revoked PSA, highlighting that he couldn’t have committed a crime while already in detention.
The judgment emphasized Sultan’s innocence, rejecting allegations of his involvement in criminal activities. Describing Sultan as a “law-abiding citizen” with a “respected reputation in society,” the court’s ruling brought relief to Sultan and his supporters.
Sultan was accused of involvement in the April 4, 2019 incident at Central Jail Srinagar, where inmates allegedly set fire to barracks, shouted anti-national slogans, and attacked jail employees. He faced charges under Section 13 (Inciting unlawful activity) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a stringent anti-terror law, as well as under sections 147 (Punishment for rioting), 148 (Rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (Unlawful assembly), 336 (Endangering life or personal safety of others), and 307 (Attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
This decision marks a significant development in Sultan’s legal battle, with hopes for justice and fairness prevailing in his case.
