New Delhi, Nov 10: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday requested the Delhi High Court to hold in-camera proceedings in its appeal seeking the death penalty for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik in the 2017 terror funding case.
A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Manoj Jain said the request would be considered after NIA’s counsel, Special Public Prosecutor Akshai Malik, sought private proceedings and a secure virtual link.
Yasin Malik, appearing via video conference from Tihar Jail, alleged that he was facing psychological torture due to a three-year delay in hearing the appeal.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 28.
Earlier, in an 85-page affidavit, Malik claimed he had worked for nearly 30 years as part of a “backchannel” mechanism involving successive prime ministers, intelligence officials, and business leaders to promote peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted in May 2022 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code.
The NIA, challenging the life term, argued that a terrorist should not escape the death penalty merely by pleading guilty, saying such leniency would weaken the sentencing policy and allow others to avoid capital punishment.
