Ex-Kashmir High Court Bar Association President Mian Qayoom Arrested In Advocate Babar Qadri's Murder Case

Qayoom had been summoned by the SIA today only to be arrested later in the day today.

Advocate Qadri, a lawyer and TV panellist, was fatally shot at his home in Srinagar by unidentified assailants posing as clients in September 2020.

Police had subsequently registered a case at Lalbazar Police station for murder under section 302 of IPC, 7/27 of Arms Act and section 13, 16, 18, 20 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

Prior to his murder, Qadri had posted a video on Facebook criticizing Qayoom for his political activities within the Bar Association. In the video, Qadri had also accused Qayoom of using intimidation and coercion to influence Bar politics since 1990 and called for integrity in political conduct.

Initially, the police set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate Qadri's murder, which was later transferred to the SIA. Later in September 2023, the SIA offered a reward of ₹10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of those involved in Qadri's killing.

While investigating the matter the police had also raided the homes of Qayoom and two other lawyers as part of the investigation, seizing digital devices and documents.

Qayoom had served as the HCBA president for over two decades and is the father-in-law of Justice Javed Iqbal Wani, a current judge of the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.

In August 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370, Qayoom was placed under preventive detention under the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety Act (PSA) due to his "secessionist" activities. His detention was upheld by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and lasted until mid-2020, when the Central government chose not to extend it beyond August 6, 2020.