Online Blog Case; Special Court grants bail to former SMC Secretary Sofi Akbar

Mudasir Yaqoob

Srinagar, July 19: A Special Court here on Friday granted bail to former Secretary Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Sofi Akbar, accused in online blog site “Kashmir fight” case.

 

 

 

After hearing prosecution and defence counsels advocate Aamir Masoodi and Advocate Nazish Rasrub Rehmani, the Court of Special Additional and Sessions Judge Designated under NIA Act ,   Srinagar Sandeep Gandotra said that accused is admitted to bail on furnishing bail bonds with one surety in the tune of rupees to lakh.

 

 

 

“The application filed by Sofi Mohammad Akbar herein seeking his admission  on bail, is hereby allowed. The accused herein is directed to be enlarged on bail provided he shall furnish bail bond in the sum of one lakh rupees with two sureties in the like amount,” Court said. 

 

 

 

However, Court imposed certain conditions on the Akbar including that he shall appear before court on each  and every date of hearing.

 

 

 

Other conditions include that he shall not in any way misuse his liberty nor shall he get in touch with any of the witnesses or try to influence the course investigation; he shall not temper with the evidence of  the prosecution in any manner; he shall not leave the territorial  jurisdiction of this court without prior permission of the court.

On 7 July 2021, Jammu and Kashmir Police had claimed to have arrested five persons running an online blog site which ran smear campaigns against prominent personalities in Kashmir.

The bail was granted to Akbar person in the FIR number 82/2020 under sections 13,16,18,20 ULAP Act at Police Station Kothibagh.