Sat Mar 22 12:32:28 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Upholds Acquittal in 1990 Kashmir University Vice Chancellor Kidnapping-Murder Case

**New Delhi, March 22, 2025** – The Supreme Court of India has dismissed the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) appeal challenging the acquittal of seven individuals accused in the 1990 kidnapping and murder of Mushir-ul-Haq, the then Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, and his personal secretary. The accused were alleged members of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Students Liberation Front (JKSLF).

The court, in a judgment delivered by Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, criticized the handling of the case by the investigating agencies, stating that procedural safeguards were completely disregarded, hindering the pursuit of truth and justice for both the victims and the accused. The justices specifically highlighted the flawed recording of confessional statements in a heavily guarded environment, rendering them inadmissible.

The CBI’s investigation had implicated Hilal Beg, the alleged self-styled Chief Commander of the JKSLF, and several others in a conspiracy to kidnap Haq and his secretary to pressure the government into releasing imprisoned associates. While Haq and his secretary were initially kidnapped on April 6, 1990, their subsequent murder on April 10, 1990, followed the failure to meet the militants’ demands.

Despite the CBI’s allegations, the Supreme Court found no grounds to overturn the special court’s acquittal, stating that no other view was possible. The court’s decision emphasizes the importance of upholding procedural safeguards during investigations, particularly concerning the recording of confessions. The judgment reflects on the repeal of draconian provisions like the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 (TADA), used in the original case.

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