AAP MLA Mehraj Malik : In a significant development, the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has set aside the preventive detention of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act. The decision comes as a major relief for the legislator, who had been in custody since September last year.
Detention Challenged Through Habeas Corpus Petition
Malik’s counsel, Appu Singh, informed that the court delivered its verdict after hearing a habeas corpus plea filed against the detention order. The petition argued that Malik’s custody under the PSA was unjustified.
Following multiple hearings, the bench annulled the detention order, effectively paving the way for Malik’s release, subject to legal formalities and provided he is not required in any other case.
Custody Since September 2025
The AAP leader, who represents the Doda Constituency Area and also heads the party’s Jammu & Kashmir unit, was detained on 8 September 2025. Authorities had cited allegations of activities deemed “prejudicial to public order” while placing him under preventive custody.
He was subsequently lodged in the Kathua district jail. After arguments from both sides concluded on 23 February this year, the court had reserved its judgment before finally pronouncing it in open court.
Political Reactions Pour In
Reacting to the verdict, Arvind Kejriwal welcomed Malik’s release through a post on X, calling his struggle “an inspiration for many.”
Meanwhile, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh praised Malik’s resilience, stating that enduring over seven months in jail only strengthened his image as a determined leader. He also criticized the use of stringent laws like the PSA and expressed solidarity with Malik.