PDP’s Waheed Para ‘Not A Law-Abiding Citizen’: NIA Opposes Travel Plea Citing Security Threat, Flight Risk

The NIA opposes PDP leader Waheed Para's plea to ease travel restrictions, citing flight risk and national security concerns. They argue his MLA duties aren't hindered by current bail terms and accuse him of evading justice.

File Photo of PDP leader and legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para

Source : PTI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has strongly objected to a plea filed by PDP leader and legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, seeking relaxation in his bail conditions to permit travel outside Jammu and Kashmir. The central agency contended that Para poses a flight risk and is facing serious charges related to national security.

In its response to Para’s application, the NIA urged the special court to dismiss the plea, asserting that granting such relief would “create a substantial risk of the accused absconding and thereby frustrating the due process and administration of justice”, news agency PTI reported.

Para, who was initially arrested by the NIA on 25 November 2020, was granted bail on 9 January 2021 by an NIA court. However, he remained in custody as he was subsequently taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation (Kashmir) wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police—now known as the State Investigation Agency (SIA). He was eventually granted bail by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court in 2022 after spending over 18 months in detention.

In its four-page response to the bail modification plea, the NIA maintained, “The accused, Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, is not a law-abiding citizen and stands implicated in serious offences affecting national security.”

“Bail Terms Don’t Restrict MLA Duties”: NIA

The PDP legislator recently approached the special NIA court seeking to lift the restriction that requires him to obtain court permission before travelling outside Jammu and Kashmir, citing his constitutional responsibilities as an elected representative.

However, the NIA refuted the claim that the existing bail terms impede his legislative duties. “The present bail conditions in no way prevent the accused from performing his duties as an MLA,” the agency stated in its reply, as quoted by PTI.

The agency further argued that any blanket permission to travel beyond the Union Territory should be treated as “a calculated attempt to evade justice during a critical stage of the trial.”

While granting bail in 2022, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court had observed that the evidence produced by the prosecution was not strong enough to deny Para relief. In its 15-page order, the bench ruled that Para must appear before the investigating officer when required and cannot leave the Union Territory without prior approval from the trial court.

The court had also taken note that Para had not been charged under Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which pertains to acts intended to threaten the sovereignty, integrity, or security of India or to strike terror, and carries punishments ranging from five years to life imprisonment.

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