Sofi Fehmeeda v. National Investigation Agency

$~15 *

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ CRL.A. 355/2022 SOFI FEHMEEDA .....Appellant Through:

Mr Satish Tamta, Sr. Advocate with Mr. Shariq Iqbal and Ms. Manavi Joshi Advs. (Mob. No. 9990924005).

versus NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY .....Respondent Through:

Mr. Akshai Malik, SPP with Mr. Khawar Saleem and Mr. Yatharth Sharma, Advs.

CORAM:

JUSTICE PRATHIBA M. SINGH JUSTICE AMIT SHARMA

O R D E R

% 30.09.2024 1.

This hearing has been done through hybrid mode. 2.

The present appeal filed under Section 21 of National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 challenges the impugned judgment dated 2nd May, 2022 by which the appeal being CA No. 240/2019 filed by the Appellant under Section 25(6) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act ('UAPA Act') has been dismissed by the ld. Special Judge, NIA Court. 3.

The said CA No. 240/2019 was filed challenging order dated 5th September, 2019 passed by the designated authority, i.e., CTCR Division of Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, by which the order dated 9th July, 2019 regarding seizure and attachment by the NIA in NIA Case No RC17/2018/NIA/DLI of the vehicle - Creta SUV bearing Registration No. JK01AB 6079 registered in the name of the Appellant has been affirmed. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 02/07/2025 at 06:03:59

4.

The grounds on which the attachment of the said vehicle has taken place is that the same was used for activities of a proscribed organisation i.e.,'Dukhtaran-e-Millat' (DeM), which has been upheld by the impugned judgment dated 2nd May, 2022 passed by the ld. Special Judge, NIA. 5.

A perusal of the impugned order would show that the ld. Special Judge has merely confirmed the attachment order, the effect of which would be that the said vehicle cannot be released to the Appellant or its owner, and the said attachment is to be maintained until final orders are passed by the Special NIA Court in the concerned proceedings.

6.

At this stage, this Court is of the opinion that the mere passing of the attachment order is meant for safeguarding of the said car and to ensure that it is not sold or utilised in any manner for unlawful activities. 7.

In view of the said position, this Court is not inclined to entertain the present appeal at this stage.

8.

Needless to add, if any order of forfeiture/sale is passed by the said Special Court, the rights of the Appellant to avail her legal rights in accordance with law are left open.

9.

It is clarified that this Court has not dealt with the issue of maintainability of the present appeal in view of the above order which is passed.

PRATHIBA M. SINGH, J AMIT SHARMA, J SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 Kr/nk/ms The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 02/07/2025 at 06:03:59