Senior advocate Nirmal K Kotwal on Thursday withdrew his name from a panel of advocates formed by the Aam Aadmi Party to challenge the detention of its Doda MLA, Mehraj Malik, under the Public Safety Act, claiming that he has come across certain video clips showing the legislator making objectionable statements.
“The unity and sovereignty of India are non-negotiable and any act or statement undermining them cannot be condoned under any circumstances,” he said.
Pointing out these videos and statements were not brought to his notice by the legal team of the Aam Aadmi Party while briefing him about the imposition of the Public Safety Act against Malik, Kotwal said that “these utterances, if true, are extremely insensitive, irresponsible and detrimental to the cause of national security, sovereignty and integrity of India”.
“As an officer of the court and as a citizen of this great nation, I place the interest of the nation above all else,” he said in a statement.
Malik was detained under PSA for a period of one year on September 8 on grounds of allegedly threatening public order in the district.
On September 14, AAP had announced a 10-member legal team led by Kotwal to challenge the detention.
Most recent FIR
The most recent FIR filed against Malik accuses him of illegally locking up medical equipment at a primary health centre and threatening its staff.
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The FIR was registered on September 6, two days before Malik’s detention, based on a complaint registered by the Thathri Block Medical Officer.
This was the latest of 18 FIRs filed against Malik. It accuses the AAP leader of trying to prevent the Ayushman Arogya Mandir primary health centre from being moved to another building in Kencha village of Doda’s Thathri block.
A video that emerged soon after this alleged incident purportedly showed Malik using objectionable language against Doda Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh over the move. While Malik alleged his recommendation in the matter was ignored, the DC claimed the MLA wanted the administration to allow the sub-centre to function in a building built by one of his supporters on state land and pay him monthly rent.
According to the FIR, the centre was already in a state of disrepair, but heavy rain in Jammu this year caused its wall to collapse, prompting the BMO to order its move to a house shortlisted by his predecessor.
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When contacted, senior AAP leader Amit Kapoor accused the BMO of arbitrarily deciding to move the health centre to a building where two government centres were already running.
