Shabir Shah moves court, apprehends untoward incident in Tihar Jail

Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah, arrested on the charge of money laundering, on Thursday moved a Delhi court to express apprehension of an "untoward incident" with him at the Tihar Central Jail here and urged for security.

"The applicant (Shah) is lodged in a cell where other inmates are showing anger against him and passing unbearable comments. In view of this, there is an apprehension that an untoward incident may take place with him," Shah said in his application moved by his counsel M.S. Khan.

The plea urged Additional District and Sessions Judge Sidharth Sharma to issue directions to the Jail Superintendent to provide security to the accused leader.

He also urged for directions on his regular medication and proper diet as per his medical report since he is suffering from various ailments, including diabetes.

The court sought a report from Tihar Jail officials on Shah's plea and listed the matter for August 14.

Shah was arrested from Srinagar on July 25 on the charge of money laundering in a case dating back to 2005 wherein the Delhi Police Special Cell had arrested hawala dealer Muhammad Aslam Wani.

Wani had reportedly confessed that he had passed on Rs 2.25 crore hawala money to Shah. The ED had registered a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against them.

In the 2005 case lodged by the Special Cell, the court had acquitted co-accused Wani of the charges of criminal conspiracy and other offences but convicted him under the Arms Act.

The Enforcement Directorate had arrested Wani on Sunday. He was remanded to custody till August 14.

On Wednesday, the court had remanded Shabir Shah in 14-day judicial custody after the Enforcement Directorate did not seek his further custodial interrogation.

Shah was presented in the court on Wednesday on the expiry of his six-day custody.

--IANS

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