SC seeks Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik's response on CBI's plea to shift trial to Delhi

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a response from Jammu and Kashmir's separatist leader Yasin Malik on CBI's plea for transfer of the trial in connection with the killing of four IAF personnel and the abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in 1989, to Delhi's Tihar jail here.

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih was apprised by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the applications have been filed for shifting the trial and the impleadment of the co-accused in the matter.

Mehta said that Tihar jail, where Malik is lodged currently, has got a functional court facility.

The court sought a response from the accused and fixed the matter for consideration on December 18.

The court had earlier on November 27 asked the CBI to explore the option of setting up a court in jail to let Malik cross-examine witnesses in the case against him in view of resistance by the agency to take him to Jammu and Kashmir.

The CBI had filed the plea against orders of a special court in Jammu, which issued a production warrant for the physical appearance of Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik for cross-examination.

Malik’s physical appearance was sought for cross-examination of witnesses’ connection with the killing of four IAF personnel and the abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of Mufti Muhammad Sayeed in 1989. Malik has been serving a life term sentence in Tihar Jail after being convicted in a terror funding case.