Srinagar, Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan has been granted bail by a Srinagar court in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), following prolonged legal battles and multiple detentions under various charges since 2018.

According to Kashmir Media Service, Additional Sessions Judge Sandeep Gandotra granted the bail on grounds that the application of UAPA alone does not negate the need for fulfilling other legal criteria for bail. The court has set stringent conditions for Sultan’s release, including restrictions on the use of encrypted messaging apps and VPNs, and stipulations that he must seek court approval to acquire a new mobile phone or SIM card.

Sultan was initially detained in 2018 under UAPA charges and was released in 2022. However, he was quickly re-arrested under the Public Safety Act and then again in the current UAPA case upon his release from a jail in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year. His legal team successfully argued that his continued detention was unjustified as he was not present at the location of the alleged incident, which occurred over five years ago. The court agreed, stating that the extensive period since the incident provided ample time for investigation and that further detention would be purposeless.