The Delhi High Court has granted bail to Javed Ali, who was accused of funding terror activities for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma overturned a previous trial court’s decision to deny bail, citing prolonged judicial custody and slow progress in witness examination as key factors in their judgment.
Javed Ali, arrested in November 2019, faced allegations of channeling funds from Saudi Arabia to operatives in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. These funds were purportedly intended to facilitate reconnaissance missions across India, recruit terrorists, and identify vulnerable targets, including foreign nationals and tourists. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) claimed that Ali was connected to the proscribed terror group LeT and assisted in managing financial transactions through hawala channels.
Despite these serious charges, the Delhi High Court noted that of the 221 witnesses listed by the prosecution, only nine have been examined since Ali’s incarceration began over three years ago. The court highlighted that only one failed financial transaction could be directly linked to Ali, with no further evidence to substantiate his direct involvement in funding terror activities.
