New Delhi, August, 28 (FN Bureau) A Delhi court on Tuesday ordered the release of Kashmiri separatist leader Shabbir Ahmad Shah from judicial custody in a money laundering case. Additional Sessions Judge Dheeraj Mor after hearing argument on behalf of the prosecution and the defence, ordered Shah be released forthwith from judicial custody if not required in any other case. Shah’s counsels submitted that he has suffered the maximum punishment in the case for which he is facing trial.
The court after hearing the submissions noted that Shah has been in continuous custody for over seven years since July 26, 2017, facing trial for offence under Section 3 of PMLA punishable under Section 4 of PMLA, 2002. The maximum substantive sentence prescribed for the said offence is 7 years. “He is in continuous custody in this case from July 26, 2017, and since then, more than 7 years have passed. Therefore, the submissions made on his behalf are apparently correct,” the judge said.
Accused Shah was produced from judicial custody through video conferencing, while the remaining two accused persons, now on bail, had joined the court proceedings through VC. Counsels for the accused persons also submitted before the court that they are in the process of filing quashing petition of this ECIR before Hon’ble Delhi High Court and they would like to address arguments on the charge only after disposal of the said quashing petition. Accordingly, they sought an adjournment for today. The court put up the matter for hearing on October 23.