Even Ajmal Kasab got fair trial: SC tells CBI in Yasin Malik's case

New Delhi: While hearing the CBI’s challenge against a Jammu court order directing separatist leader Yasin Malik to appear in person, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that even 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab received fair trial in the country, according to NDTV.

The matter in question is related to the killing of four Indian Air Force personnel in Sringar in 1990 and kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, then Home Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's daughter in 1989 with Yasin Malik being the main accused in both cases.

While hearing Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act cases in 2022, a court in Jammu asked Malik to appear in person.

Malik, serving a life-term in Delhi's Tihar jail in a terror funding case, also wanted to appear in person.

However, challenging the Jammu court order, the CBI argued that Malik’s physical appearance in court could endanger witnesses against him, and disrupt atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, told the court that ‘We do not want to take him to Jammu and Kashmir’.

Pointing to the poor internet connectivity in Jammu, Justice AS Oka asked how cross examination could be done in videoconference.

It was then Mehta suggested the trial could be shifted to Delhi if Malik was insisting to appear personally, adding that the separatist leader was ‘playing tricks’.

When Tushar Mehta termed Malik ‘not just another terrorist’, Justice Oka said ‘in our country, a fair trial was given even to Ajmal Kasab’.

Responding to it, Mehta said Malik travelled to Pakistan travelled frequently and shared dais with Hafeez Saeed.

It is reported that the bench agreed to setting up a court in jail for the hearing and asked the centre about how many witnesses will appear and their security arrangements.