Kamal Ghorui
AAP MLA from Doda (East), Mehraj Malik, was Tuesday released from Kathua district jail after nearly eight months following a J&K high court order quashing his detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA).His family and supporters hailed the court order as a “victory of truth”, while the legislator thanked the judiciary and his supporters, and resolved to continue fighting for the people.On Monday, Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani set aside the detention order issued by Doda deputy commissioner, holding it to be legally unsustainable and based on “non-application of mind”. Malik, AAP’s J&K unit president and lone legislator in the UT, had been detained under PSA on Sept 8 last year on charges of disturbing public order.Malik’s family members, supporters and partymen, including Delhi MLA Imran Hussain, were present outside the jail to welcome him. As he came out after completing the formalities, they garlanded him, shouted slogans and danced to the beats of dholak. “Truth always prevails. The one above is watching everything,” his father Shammas Din said.Malik had filed a habeas corpus petition in HC on Sept 24, 2025, challenging his detention and seeking Rs 5 crore as compensation. The court had reserved its order on Feb 23.
