Srinagar, 18 November (KNB): The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir has granted bail to Fahad Shah, the editor of The Kashmir Walla. Shah had been held for 21 months under the Public Safety Act (PSA) and faced charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The court quashed several charges against Shah, including “abetting terrorism, waging war against the country and promoting enmity.”
Despite the bail, Shah will still face trial under the UAPA and sections 35, 39 of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) related to receiving funds in violation of the law.
The government had blocked access to The Kashmir Walla’s website and taken down its social media accounts in August.
Shah’s arrest in February 2022 stemmed from a report on an encounter in Pulwama, with authorities accusing him of uploading anti-national content to create fear.
Earlier, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had quashed his detention under the PSA, citing a lack of substantial evidence linking him to a threat to public order.
Despite securing bail in three cases, Shah’s prolonged detention under the PSA had drawn condemnation from journalists’ bodies both within and outside the country. -KNB