New Delhi, June 12 (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has rejected the bail plea of separatist leader Shabir Shah, who is imprisoned in a terror funding case. A vacation bench headed by Justice Navin Chawla ordered the dismissal of the plea. Shabir Shah’s Advocate, Colin Gonsalves, stated during the hearing that the chargesheet in this case has already been filed and the investigation is complete. The first supplementary chargesheet by the NIA does not mention Shabir Shah. There is also no expectation of a quick trial in this case, as there are 400 witnesses.

Previously, the Patiala House Court had rejected Shabir Shah's bail plea. Shah challenged the Patiala House Court's order in the High Court. The ED had stated in the Patiala House Court that Shabir Shah has been in contact with Hafiz Saeed, the head of Jamaat-ud-Dawa. The United Nations has imposed sanctions on Jamaat-ud-Dawa. Shah was also in contact with Mohammad Shafi Shayar, who fled to Pakistan with his family after being released from Jammu jail. The ED mentioned that further investigation into these serious crimes is still pending. If Shabir Shah is released, it would hamper the process of uncovering the entire conspiracy.

It is important to note that Shabir Shah is currently imprisoned in Tihar Jail in two cases—one related to terror funding and the other to money laundering. A case against Shabir Shah for money laundering was filed in 2007 concerning allegations from 2005. Shabir Shah was arrested by the ED on July 25, 2017.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar