States » NorthPosted at: Sep 19 2026 9:31PM


Yasin Malik’s lawyer seeks permission to withdraw from Sarla Bhat case

Srinagar, Sep 19 (UNI) Jailed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yasin Malik’s advocate Adil Pandit, on Saturday sought permission from the Additional Sessions Judge (TADA/POTA), Srinagar, to withdraw his power of attorney/vakalatnama in the case relating to the 1990 killing of Kashmiri Pandit nurse Sarla Bhat.
In an application filed before the court, Pandit said Malik had placed his position regarding the proceedings before the court through written submissions and had conveyed his decision concerning the further conduct of the trial.
The lawyer stated that Malik, after “due reflection and consideration”, had decided not to contest the trial proceedings further, while making it clear that his decision should not be treated as an admission of any prosecution fact, guilt or acceptance of the allegations against him.
Malik had earlier, in his 25-page affidavit submitted before the court, denied having any role in the kidnapping and killing of Sarla Bhat and maintained that he had been falsely implicated in the case. At the same time, he requested that capital punishment be awarded to him, while stating that his decision not to contest the proceedings should not be construed as an admission of guilt.
“That the written submissions further reflect the accused's personal and conscientious consideration of the course he proposes to adopt in the present proceedings. He has stated that, after due reflection and having regard to his personal circumstances, he has decided not to contest the trial proceedings further, while expressly stating that such decision is not to be treated as an admission of any prosecution fact, guilt or acceptance of the allegations made against him,” the lawyer said.
Pandit said that, in view of the instructions received from Malik, he no longer had instructions to continue representing him in the present proceedings and therefore sought the court’s leave to cease representation.
The application also clarified that the withdrawal was limited to the proceedings pending before the Srinagar TADA/POTA Court and would have no bearing on two separate CBI cases in which Pandit continues to represent Malik.
The lawyer specifically mentioned the two CBI proceedings pending before the learned TADA Court at Jammu—one relating to the killing of Indian Air Force personnel and the other concerning the kidnapping of Rubiya Sayeed.
The application further stated that the request to withdraw should not be construed as an admission of any fact, allegation, charge or circumstance forming part of the prosecution case, or as an admission of guilt.
The State Investigation Agency (SIA) had filed a chargesheet in June 2026 in connection with the April 19, 1990 abduction and murder of Sarla Bhat, naming Malik and four others as accused.
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