Kashmir businessman Shafat Ahmed Shangloo set free by TADA Court

A Kashmir valley-based businessman, Shafat Ahmed Shangloo, arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the 35-year-old kidnapping case of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of former Home Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed, was set free by the special TADA court immediately after rejecting the CBI plea seeking his custody on Tuesday.

“I was not involved in the (abduction) case. There was nothing against me. The court acquitted me today. Justice has been done,” an emotionally charged Shafat Ahmed Shangloo said, signalling a victory sign in the special court premises.

“Shafat Ahmed Shangloo was produced before the special TADA court in Jammu on Tuesday. We have sought custody of the accused,” CBI lawyer SK Bhat told reporters.

As a battery of cameramen and reporters chased Shangloo outside the court premises, his lawyer, Sohail Dar, briefed the media persons about the proceedings in the special TADA court.  Dar said the CBI had produced Shangloo in the court seeking his custody. After going through the chargesheet filed in the abduction case, the court decided to set him free as there was no evidence against him on record, he added.

The detailed order of the verdict delivered by Madan Lal, Third Additional District and Sessions Judge of the TADA Court, was not immediately available.

Referring to the allegations levelled against him that he was absconding for the last 35 years, Shafat Ahmed clarified, “I was not absconding. I am a businessman. I was in Delhi for 10 years. In 1995, I shifted to Delhi. I was doing business in Delhi. Then I came back to Kashmir in 2002. In 1998, I got a passport from Delhi. Then, in 2016, I got a passport from Srinagar.  I am a traveller. I travel a lot. How can you say I was absconding? I have a Modi card, I have a Ration card, and I have an Aadhar card. I was not involved in the abduction case. Finally, the judge has delivered justice to me, and I am thankful”.

Shangloo carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh for allegedly being part of a conspiracy hatched by members of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF). He was alleged to be a close confidant of JKLF chief Yasin Malik, who is in jail in this and other cases. In a statement, the CBI had said Shangloo conspired with Malik and others in committing offences.