The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has upheld the arrest of former Bar Association President Mian Abdul Qayoom, rejecting his petition challenging the legality of his detention in connection with the 2020 assassination of Advocate Babar Qadri.
Qayoom, taken into custody on June 25, 2024, had argued that his arrest was arbitrary and that procedural safeguards were ignored. He also contested multiple remand orders that extended his time in police custody. However, the court found no violations of constitutional or legal provisions, asserting that due process had been followed, including providing him with the grounds for his arrest and recording the procedure on video.
The verdict, delivered by Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul on February 19, concluded that the police and investigative agencies acted within their legal mandate. The court dismissed claims that Qayoom’s cooperation with previous summonses negated the need for his arrest, emphasizing that further investigation was within legal bounds—even after the initial chargesheet in 2021 had not named him as an accused.
Qadri, a well-known legal practitioner and television panellist, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at his Srinagar residence in September 2020. The case, initially registered under various criminal provisions, was later transferred to the State Investigating Agency (SIA) in 2023 for further inquiry.
Qayoom’s arrest was based on allegations linking him to a conspiracy behind Qadri’s killing. His legal team contended that his repeated questioning by the SIA in early 2024 demonstrated his willingness to cooperate, making his arrest unnecessary. However, the court ruled that investigative authorities had the right to pursue additional inquiries as new evidence emerged.
With this ruling, Qayoom remains in custody as the case continues to unfold.