Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir high court on Monday quashed the preventive detention of journalist Asif Sultan and ordered for his release "he is not required in any other case".
Asif was arrested by the police in August 2018 after being accused of "glorifying" Hizb-ul-Mujahideen's slain commander Burhan Wani in one of his write-ups appearing in a local periodical. He was later accused of also "harnessing known terrorists, criminal conspiracy and aiding and participating in terrorist activities" and subsequently booked under the relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)Act,1967 and the Indian Penal Code (then Ranbir Penal Code).
Justice V.K.Koul of the high court said that Asif was not provided sufficient detention records and evidence, impeding his right to effectively appeal against the order.
