NEW DELHI: Justifying the detention of bureaucrat-turned-politician Shah Faesal, the J&K government has told the Delhi High Court that he instigated people gathered at the Srinagar airport against the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
The J&K government reply came in response to the habeas corpus petition filed by Faesal’s friend. Faesal was detained at the Delhi airport on Wednesday, as he was about to fly abroad.
He was sent back to Srinagar, where he was placed under house arrest under the Public Safety Act.
Questioning Faesal’s contention that he was on way to the US to complete his studies at the Harvard University, the government said he was travelling on a tourist visa and not a student visa.
The state government said it was inconceivable that he would leave the country at this juncture to pursue an academic course in the US. It said Faesal’s liberty is curtailed by the statutory provisions and under an order passed by an executive magistrate Budgam when he had refused to furnish a bond to keep the peace.
“It is not conceivable in the absence of any cogent material to accept the theory that a leader of a political outfit which is very vocal about constitutional actions was taken by the constitutional bodies of our country on August 5, would leave the country at this juncture to pursue academic course in Harvard University, that too without a student visa,” it said.
“A Look Out Circular was issued by the Intelligence Bureau and on its basis, he was detained at the Delhi airport and was taken back to Srinagar,” the affidavit stated.