Court to hold in-camera trial of Bhat: Hurriyat

Srinagar: A Delhi court Wednesday decided to hold in-camera trial in the case of alleged money laundering against Hurriyat Conference (G) leader, Ghulam Nabi Bhat.

According to a statement issued here by the Geelani-led Hurriyat, after Bhat drew the attention of the court towards the “venomous media reportage” of the case, the court “barred the media from entering the court and announced to hold in-camera trial.”
The amalgam termed as misleading reports published in sections of media regarding the trial. “Police has prepared a baseless case against Ghulam Nabi Bhat and the Indian media has began its own trial against him by spreading vicious propaganda against Geelani sahib and his associates,” it said.
“The challan produced against Bhat in trial court has been challenged in Delhi High Court and in this connection renowned Supreme Court lawyer Ram Jethmalani appeared in High Court and put his strong arguments against the challan produced in trial court. After hearing the arguments, the court listed the case on April 30 for further arguments,” the statement said.
It said following Bhat’s arrestin 2008, trail was going on for last four years but the police had failed to prove the allegations against him. “According to police, Bhat was arrested from his Hyderpora residence but he was taken into custody by the police at Bemina while he was purchasing vegetables etc. The police claim that 21 Lakh 20 thousand rupees were recovered from him is also baseless. At the time of his arrest, Bhat was beaten by police before public and later he was subjected to severe torture at Task Force camp as a result of which he slipped into coma and had to be admitted in SKIMS Soura where he was treated under police vigil for several days,” the Hurriyat faction said, adding there was no mention of treatment in hospital and by concocting a false story, police was trying to implicate an innocent person.
“India is utilizing every resource to mar the image of Geelani and his associates and the case against Bhat is part of the same conspiracy . The Hurriyat Conference also strongly denounces the police claims that Bhat is responsible for giving money to Hurriyat leaders and he aims to harm law and order situation,” it said.