Srinagar: After being into custody for over a year, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti has been finally released by the state government. "PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is being released from detention," said Jammu and Kashmir administration spokesperson Rohit Kansal. ALSO READ | Ladakh Standoff: 7th Corps Commander-Level Talks With China Positive & Constructive, Says Indian Army

The development comes days after the Supreme Court said detention cannot be forever and asked the Centre whether former J&K Chief Minister's  detention be extended beyond a year.


Fairview, which was Mehbooba Mufti's official residence as the Chief Minister, was declared as a subsidiary jail and she has been lodged there.

Mufti was arrested along with two other Chief Ministers, Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah on August 5, 2019 when the Constitution's Articles 370 and 35A were abrogated and the state bifurcated and downgraded into two Union Territories.

Soon after the announcement for Mufti's release, her daughter Iltija Mufti took to Twitter to thank everyone for their support.


Earlier in July this year, the Jammu & Kashmir government extended the detention of PDP chief under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for another three months.

An order issued by Principal Secretary, Home, Shaleen Kabra, said that in order to prevent her from acting in any manner prejudicial to maintenance of public order, the government directs that the period of detention of Mehbooba Mufti under the PSA be extended for a further period of three months and she may be lodged in subsidiary jail, Fairview, on Gupkar Road.

Initially, she was taken into preventive custody. Later on February 5 this year, she was slapped with the PSA.