New Delhi, May 22 (H.S.): The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to Suhail Ahmad Thokar, who is accused of being involved in a major conspiracy related to terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant ordered his release on bail.

Thokar had challenged the order of the Delhi High Court before the Supreme Court in 2024. On September 22, the Delhi High Court had dismissed his bail plea.

The High Court had observed that, considering the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the facts presented in the chargesheet, the allegations against him appeared to be prima facie true, and therefore he was not entitled to bail.

During the hearing, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) opposed Thokar’s bail plea and stated that the FIR had been registered on the basis of intelligence inputs.

According to the NIA, Thokar was accused of participating in a larger conspiracy aimed at carrying out terrorist activities in the Kashmir Valley in association with banned terrorist organisations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Hizbul Mujahideen, Al-Badr and other prohibited terror groups.

The NIA further stated that during the course of investigation it was found that the accused had worked to create ground support within the country on the instructions of handlers based in Pakistan, in coordination with these terror outfits.

According to the agency, he was allegedly involved in recruiting and brainwashing youth in India and motivating them to engage in terrorist activities.

He has also been accused of attempting to create an atmosphere of fear in the Kashmir Valley following the abrogation of Article 370, and of inciting people to carry out attacks against security forces as well as civilians.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar