Absconder in the 1989 Rubaiya Sayeed kidnapping case held in Srinagar: CBI

Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of former J&K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, arrives to appear before the court in connection to Rubaiya Sayeed abduction case, in Jammu district. File | Photo Credit: PTI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday (December 1, 2025) arrested Shafat Ahmed Shangloo, an alleged absconder wanted in the case of the kidnapping 35 years ago of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of the late former Union Home Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, from Srinagar.

A CBI spokesperson said Mr. Shangloo would be produced before the TADA court in Jammu, “within stipulated time as per law”.

“The accused conspired with Yasin Malik (chairman of the J&K Liberation Front or JKLF) and others in committing a crime under various Sections of the Ranbir Penal Code, and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) Act during the year 1989,” the CBI said.

The absconder, the CBI said, was carrying a reward of ₹10 lakh on his head.

Dr. Sayeed was kidnapped on the evening of December 8 and held hostage till December 13, 1989. She was released in exchange for five known militants of the JKLF, including Hamid Sheikh, Altaf Ahmed Bhat, Noor Mohammadd Kalwal, Javed Ahmed Zarger, and Sher Khan.

The kidnapping case, which was put in a cold storage for almost three decades, was re-opened in January 2021 when a TADA court ordered framing of charges against Malik and nine others in the kidnapping in Jammu.

In 2022, Dr. Sayeed identified Malik, 58, and three others, as her abductors in the 1989 kidnapping case.

The court had then observed that there were “sufficient grounds for drawing prima facie presumption that the accused have committed offences under Sections 120-B read with Sections 368 RPC and Section 3/4 of TADA Act”.

The CBI had also informed the court that several accused had made confessional statements and disclosed their role.

Besides the high-profile kidnapping case, the court in 2020 also framed charges against Malik and other accused in the case related to the killing of four Indian Air Force officials, including Squadron Leader Ravi Khanna, in an attack in Srinagar on January 25, 1990.

In 2022, Mr. Malik was convicted by a special Delhi court in a terror financing case, and was awarded two life sentences and five punishments of 10 years rigorous imprisonment each. The National Investigation Agency had demanded the death penalty in the case. Mr. Malik, who was arrested in 2019 and his organisation banned by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, is pleading all the cases himself.

Published – December 01, 2025 10:40 pm IST

  • Related Posts

    Lamborghini seized after Kanpur crash released after 8.5 crore bond payment

    The Lamborghini involved in the high-profile road accident in Kanpur earlier this month has reportedly been released after a bond of ₹8.5 crore was furnished. The accident, which left six…

    Rubio says no Russian oil again, Jaishankar stresses strategic autonomy, question remains over Trump’s tariff order

    Donald Trump’s administration continues to claim that India has committed to stop buying oil from Russia — in return for a tariff-cut and trade deal — with US Secretary of…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Vijay Sethupathys Muthu Alias Kaattaan gets release date; teaser unveiled

    Vijay Sethupathys Muthu Alias Kaattaan gets release date; teaser unveiled

    The Genius of Trees: Read an excerpt from the book by Harriet Rix

    The Genius of Trees: Read an excerpt from the book by Harriet Rix

    Lamborghini seized after Kanpur crash released after 8.5 crore bond payment

    Lamborghini seized after Kanpur crash released after  8.5 crore bond payment

    Prague Masters: Gukesh suffers shock defeat to van Foreest, Aravindh draws with Maghsoodloo

    Prague Masters: Gukesh suffers shock defeat to van Foreest, Aravindh draws with Maghsoodloo

    The Kerala Story 2 box office prediction: Controversy buzz doesn’t help sequel, film to open at less than half of part 1

    The Kerala Story 2 box office prediction: Controversy buzz doesn’t help sequel, film to open at less than half of part 1

    Subedaar: Full music album of Anil Kapoors upcoming actioner out

    Subedaar: Full music album of Anil Kapoors upcoming actioner out