Kupwara, Dec 30, KDC: A local court in Kupwara on Tuesday granted bail to eight police officers who were lodged in prison in connection with a high-profile custodial torture case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The Principal District and Sessions Judge of Kupwara issued the order directing the Superintendent of Subsidiary Jail, Humhama Srinagar, to release the accused after they furnished bail and surety bonds of ₹1,00,000 each.
The accused, identified as Deputy Superintendent of Police Aijaz Ahmad Naik, Sub-Inspector Riyaz Ahmad Mir, Special Police Officer Jahangeer Ahmad Beigh, Head Constables Mohd Younis Khan and Tanveer Ahmad Malla, Selection Grade Constables Shakir Hussain Khoja and Altaf Hussain Bhat, and Constable Shahnawaz Ahmad Deedad, had been lodged in the jail following their arrest by the CBI in August 2025.
They were named in FIR No. RC-0482025S0008, registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code including criminal conspiracy and offences relating to voluntary and grievous hurt and wrongful confinement.
The bail order, according to Kashmir Dot Com states that the accused must furnish personal bonds and surety bonds of ₹1,00,000 each to the satisfaction of the court and are prohibited from leaving the territorial jurisdiction of the court without prior permission. Those holding passports have been directed to deposit them before the court.
The judge stressed that the accused must not intimidate, influence or tamper with prosecution evidence, nor threaten any prosecution witness, and must remain present at every hearing before the trial court unless exempted by the court. The order further warned that any breach of the bail conditions would be viewed seriously and could lead to cancellation of bail.
The case stems from allegations that in February 2023 a police constable was illegally detained and subjected to custodial torture at the Joint Interrogation Centre in Kupwara. The matter drew national attention and was taken over by the Supreme Court of India, which directed the CBI to investigate, terming the custodial torture allegations as shocking to the conscience. The apex court also ordered compensation to the victim and held that local investigations had been inadequate. The CBI subsequently filed its chargesheet in October 2025, detailing allegations of abuse and highlighting serious violations of rights during custody.
Prior to this latest development, bail applications by the accused had been rejected by the court amid concerns over the gravity of the allegations and the possibility of interference with evidence. However, on Tuesday the court accepted the bail bonds and authorized their release, noting that the conditions had been met and the bonds attested. The judge instructed the jail authorities to release the officers provided they were not involved or required in any other offences. (KDC)
