Srinagar: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court granted bail to 17 accused in the lynching murder case of a DSP Mohammad Ayub Pandit who was murdered by a mob in 2017 outside the Jamia Masjid in Nowhatta, Srinagar.
Additional Sessions Judge MS Manhas, who was appointed special judge for the NIA court, said in the 81-page order that there is no concrete evidence against the accused so far. “Whatever the charges have been made in the charge sheet, there has been no ground on the part of the prosecution to prove those charges,” he said
“Nor does it appear to the court that the accused committed the crime. Since the trial so far has failed to prove concrete evidence against the accused, orders are issued to release the 17 accused on bail,” he said and directed each accused to appear before the court on every hearing, including to furnish a surety amount of two lakh rupees, to investigate, directly or indirectly, not to attempt to influence the evidence and not to go out of the court’s jurisdiction without permission. ordered.(KNS)
