Omar Abdullah's sister moves SC challenging his detention under PSA

Days after the government detained the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah under the Public Safety Act (PSA), his sister Sara Abdullah Pilot moved the Supreme Court challenging the detention.

On Monday (February 10) Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a bench headed by Justice NV Ramana. At the instance of Sibal, the bench agreed to list the matter urgently. The legal luminary did tell the court that a habeas Corpus plea has been filed challenging the detention.

Earlier, Sara had said Omar’s arrest was a violation of the constitutional right to free speech and is part of a “consistent and concerted effort to muzzle all political rivals”. Incidentally, Sara is married to, Congress leader and deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot.

Also read: Omar Abdullah facing PSA for his social media influence: Govt dossier

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister’s Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah, besides two other political stalwarts from National Conference (NC) and its arch-rival People’s Democratic Party (PDP), were booked under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) by the administration on Thursday (February 6).

(With inputs from agencies)