Delhi High Court upholds Mateen Ahmed Bhat's bail in UAPA case

The Delhi High Court dismissed the NIA's appeal against Mateen Ahmed Bhat's bail. The ruling stresses that grave allegations must be tested at trial.Stock photo used for illustrationNewdelhi,Nov 1, 2026 16:26 ISTThe Delhi High Court has upheld the bail granted to Kashmiri youth Mateen Ahmed Bhat in a case under the anti-terror law involving an alleged conspiracy to spread terror in Jammu and Kashmir, news agency Press Trust of India reported.A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Arun Bhardwaj dismissed the National Investigation Agency's appeal against the trial court's May 3, 2023, order granting bail to Bhat.The High Court said that although the allegations against Bhat were "grave", they would have to be tested during the trial, which was unlikely to conclude soon."We find no merit in the present appeal. The same, accordingly, stands dismissed," the bench said in its judgement delivered on October 30. According to PTI, the NIA alleged that Bhat willingly joined a conspiracy to work as an "Over Ground Worker" for an "active terrorist in Kashmir Valley". It claimed that he was involved in procuring arms and ammunition for banned terrorist organisations to create unrest in the Valley and other parts of the country.The agency alleged that after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution, local youths were "brainwashed" by banned terrorist organisations into joining separatist groups and working as Over Ground Workers to create unrest. The investigation allegedly found that Bhat had met a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist and was working for him, other active militants and Pakistan-based handlers linked to banned organisations, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.Before the High Court, the NIA argued that the trial court had subsequently framed charges against Bhat and that its bail order contained contradictions and errors.The High Court said the trial court had correctly assessed whether the material on record showed that the accusations against Bhat were prima facie true. It added that the subsequent order framing charges was not relevant while considering the NIA's appeal against bail.Bhat was arrested on October 13, 2021. The NIA filed a chargesheet against him in April 2022 under Sections 120B, relating to criminal conspiracy, and 121A, concerning conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India, of the Indian Penal Code, as well as provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Charges were framed in 2024.The High Court, therefore, dismissed the NIA's appeal and allowed the trial court's order granting bail to Bhat to remain in force while the allegations are examined during the trial.- Ends