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Pulwama MLA Waheed Para, released on bail in ‘terror funding’ case 3 years ago, now gets court nod to travel outside J&K

In the order released Tuesday, the court stated that being a member of the Assembly, the applicant “has to move out of the Union Territory time and again in connection with his official and other duties.”

Bail conditions modified for Pulwama MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para (PDP), allowing him to travel outside the Union Territory for official duties. (Source: X/@parawahid)

Three years after the High Court of J&K and Ladakh granted him bail in an alleged terror funding case, the court on Tuesday modified his bail conditions to allow Pulwama MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para to travel outside the Union Territory.

Para was first arrested under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in November 2020, three days after he filed his nomination for the District Development Council elections in J&K. He contested and won the 2020 District Development Council elections from jail, but was not allowed to take the oath of office despite securing bail in May 2022.

After spending 17 months in jail, the High Court granted him bail, terming the evidence produced by J&K Police against the PDP leader as “sketchy”. The court directed Para to make himself available to the investigating officer in the case. He was also required to take prior permission from the trial court before leaving the UT. “He shall surrender his passport, if any, with the investigating officer,” and appear before the trial court in each and every hearing.

In the order released Tuesday, the court stated that being a member of the J&K Legislative Assembly, the applicant “has to move out of the Union Territory time and again in connection with his official and other duties and this condition is creating a lot of hardship and inconvenience to him as he has to approach the trial court every time he has to go out of Union Territory, for seeking permission.”

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In modification of the May 2022 bail order, the Bench, including Justices Vinod Chatterji Koul and Sanjeev Kumar, stated that “the petitioner shall be entitled” to leave the Union Territory of J&K and move within the country after intimating his location and purpose of visit to the trial court.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Para said, “It’s been a long process to fight the case and now even the right to travel. I’m thankful for this court intervention.”

He said that despite being an elected representative and securing bail from the relevant court, “I have faced restrictions and confinement.”

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“It has been difficult to deal with both personal and professional emergencies that require travel outside J&K. There are issues that have to be followed up with union ministries, and I could not travel outside to do that,” he said.

Naveed Iqbal

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More

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