Srinagar, Feb 26 (UNI) Alleging that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders are jailed for believing in its vision of peace with dignity, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday said that there was ‘no let up in the Centre’s persecution of Kashmiri mainstream’.

Reacting to a Special Anti-Corruption Court rejecting an anticipatory bail application of PDP leader Naeem Akthar in the case of alleged irregularities in J&K Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC) during his tenure as the Minister for Public Works, Ms Mehbooba said, “Bail is the rule jail is the exception.”

“We expect better from the judiciary,” she added.

No let up in GOI’s persecution of Kashmiri mainstream. Quite clear that PDP’s @parawahid, Naeem Akhtar & Sartaj Madni are jailed for believing in its vision of peace with dignity. Bail is the rule jail is the exception. We expect better from the judiciary,” Ms Mehbooba wrote on micro-blogging site twitter.

While rejecting the anticipatory bail application, Special Anti-Corruption Judge R N Watal said that the petitioner has failed to carve out a prima facie case to qualify for the concession of bail in anticipation of his arrest. “The allegations against the petitioner were incriminating in nature and demonstrate the petitioner’s deceitful, despicable and corrupt intent in conspiracy with Vikar Mustafa Shonthu and facilitate his appointment as Managing Director JKPCC in violation of the rules and regulations,” the court said.

The court said that a cursory look to the material collected by the investigating agencies does not lead to inference that the petitioner has been falsely implicated with oblique motives instead there is direct evidence, which proves petitioner’s culpability in the case.

“Prima facie, the liability of the petitioner in the illegal appointment was obvious and crystal clear from the evidence collected by the prosecution till date,” it added.
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