Srinagar: The High Court of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has ruled that the arrest of former Bar Association President Advocate Mian Abdul Qayoom in connection with the murder case of Advocate Babar Qadri is lawful.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, Mian Qayoom challenged his arrest on June 25, 2024, arguing it was unfair and unlawful. However, Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul rejected his plea on February 19, asserting that the arrest and subsequent police custody adhered to proper legal procedures, finding no violation of his rights.

Qayoom also objected to the repeated extensions of his custody. The court, however, noted that he was informed of the reasons for his arrest in a timely manner, with the process documented on video as per legal requirements. Qayoom was arrested for allegedly participating in a conspiracy to murder Advocate Babar Qadri in 2020, who was shot dead at his home in Srinagar on September 24, 2020. A case was filed that year.

In 2023, the State Investigating Agency (SIA) assumed control of the investigation. Qayoom was summoned multiple times before his arrest in June 2024. He later approached the High Court, claiming he had been cooperating with the investigation and arguing that his arrest was unwarranted. Nevertheless, the court dismissed his claims, stating that further investigation was necessary to uncover the truth, even though an earlier chargesheet did not name him.

Notably, Mian Qayoom had been previously arrested on August 5, 2019, following the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and was incarcerated for several years.