A Deputy Superintendent of Jammu Kashmir Police, Sheikh Aadil Mushtaq who was arrested on Saturday has been accused of connections with a militant operative among other charges, NDTV reported.
The official has been helping a militant associate in evading arrest and attempting to frame a police officer who was investigating the case.
Mushtaq was arrested on multiple charges, including corruption, and was presented before a magistrate in Srinagar, who remanded him to police custody for six days.
Phone analysis of the militant suspect arrested in July revealed that Aadil Mushtaq maintained frequent contact with him and allegedly provided guidance on how to evade the law.
A senior officer, quoted by NDTV said, Aadil Mushtaq communicated with the accused through the Telegram application, with around 40 calls recorded between them.
Mushtaq reportedly offered advice on evading arrest and obtaining legal assistance.
The police have built a strong case against Aadil based on technical evidence and financial transactions, highlighting his involvement in aiding the militant accused and attempting to implicate the investigating officer.
It has come to light that Aadil even drafted a false complaint on behalf of the militant suspect to incriminate the investigating officer in a case related to militancy funding.
He is also accused of accepting ₹5 lakh from the accused and maintaining contact with another individual, Muzamil Zahoor, involved in managing Lashkar’s finances through fraudulent means.
Furthermore, Mushtaq is alleged to have orchestrated false complaints against the investigating officer just days before Muzamil Zahoor’s arrest in July.
Several individuals have now come forward with complaints against the arrested officer, including allegations of extortion and blackmail, all of which are under investigation.
This case marks the second instance in the past three years in which a high-ranking officer has been arrested for suspected links with militants.
In 2020, Deputy Superintendent Davinder Singh was arrested for aiding and transporting Hizbul Mujahideen militants to Delhi. Singh, who faces militancy-related charges, is currently incarcerated.
Ironically, Sheikh Aadil Mushtaq was once seen as a poster boy of the Jammu and Kashmir Police but is now facing serious allegations.
Sources suggest that he operated an extortion racket under the guise of public service and pseudo-nationalism.
Past accusations of extortion and blackmail have also resurfaced against him. Additionally, during his tenure as Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) at Gurez along the Line of Control (LOC), Aadil Mushtaq is facing allegations of assisting a thief who stole a flock of 200 sheep.
His involvement in these cases has led to contempt of court charges.
To investigate these allegations, a five-member Special Investigation Team has been formed.