Will represent himself in court: terror funding accused Yasin Malik

New Delhi: In the 2016 terror funding case against Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, he submitted before the Delhi High Court on Friday that he will defend himself in the appeal moved by NIA, seeking the death penalty for him, The Indian Express reported.

Malik told the high court through video conferencing that while he was allowed to be produced before the court physically, the court passed an order on August 4, 2023, directing him to present himself before the court through “video-conferencing alone” but without hearing him.

Malik then requested that the high court record in the order that he was not allowed to be heard when the order was passed.

To this, the bench of Justice Suresh Kait and Girish Kathpalia said that as per procedure, he could challenge the same before the Supreme Court, but the high court itself cannot record the ex-parte nature of the earlier order.

However, Malik responded that he did not want to go to the Supreme Court since the apex court only heard the Home Ministry.

Meanwhile, the court suggested that it could appoint an amicus curiae to represent the case of Malik, or he could name a lawyer of his choice to be appointed and defend his case. But he rejected the offer and said that he would represent himself as a party in person.

The court posted further hearings on the matter to September 19.