1989 Rubaiyya Case: Accused freed a day after CBI arrest

Srinagar: A TADA court in Jammu on Tuesday set free Shafat Ahmed Shangloo who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation a day before in connection with the 1989 kidnapping of Rubaiyya Sayeed, the daughter of the then home minister Mufi Mohammed Sayeed.

Shungloo, while talking to reporters inside the court premises, said "The court has released me and done justice. Truth has triumphed." He was arrested and produced before the special court in Jammu on Tuesday.

The court of the Third Additional District and Sessions Judge (TADA/POTA), Jammu, rejected CBI's request for judicial custody of Shungloo, stating that "there was lack of evidence to justify his continued detention".


"He has been set free. There was lack of evidence against him. The CBI had mentioned it in their chargesheet that there was no evidence against," advocate Suhail Dar told reporters at the court premises.

Shungloo was arrested in connection with the kidnapping of Rubiya Sayeed on December 8, 1989, who was released after five days with the release of five militants of the now banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

CBI officials alleged that "Shungloo conspired with Yasin Malik of JKLF and others in committing a crime under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code and TADA Act during 1989. Malik is already lodged in Tihar Jail. CBI said Shungloo was "an absconder and is carrying a reward of ₹10 lakh on his head".