New Delhi: A Delhi court has framed charges against prominent human rights activist Khurram Parvez, IPS officer Arvind Negi, and four other accused in connection with the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) 2021 terror-funding case linked to Jammu and Kashmir. The court also discharged one accused, Muneer Kataria, after he was granted pardon and turned approver in the case.
On July 31, Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma framed charges against Parvez under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act. The charges include criminal conspiracy, waging war against the state, alleged membership and support of a terrorist organisation, and bribing a public servant. Under Section 8 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, individuals accused of offering bribes can also face prosecution.
Parvez, who was released from jail only last week after spending more than four-and-a-half years in custody, had served as the coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS). The organisation has been known for documenting alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir, including enforced disappearances, illegal detentions, torture, and extrajudicial killings.
According to the NIA, Parvez allegedly maintained links with the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). During its investigation, the agency claimed to have recovered materials from him, including compact discs titled “A Tribute to Shaheed Afzal”, referring to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, and “Haqeeqat-e-Kashmir”, a cultural and political event held in Srinagar in 2013. While framing charges, the court observed that the seized material, when taken at face value, raised “grave suspicion” against the accused, warranting a trial.
The court also framed charges against Arvind Negi, a Himachal Pradesh cadre IPS officer who previously served with the NIA for more than 11 years. Negi has been charged under the Official Secrets Act for allegedly passing sensitive official information that could affect the sovereignty and integrity of the country. He also faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly accepting bribes.
According to the prosecution, Negi leaked confidential documents, including the interrogation report of politician Waheed Para, details related to an NIA investigation conducted in 2020, and documents concerning the JKCCS. The agency alleged that these documents were passed to Muneer Kataria, who then forwarded them to an alleged LeT operative based in Pakistan. Negi was arrested in February 2022 and was granted bail by a Delhi court in June the same year.
Besides Parvez and Negi, the court framed charges against Arshid Ahmad Tonch, Zafar Abbas alias Zafar Ali, Rambhawan Prasad, and Chandan Mahato. Tonch and Abbas have been charged under the UAPA and are also accused of conspiring to tamper with evidence. Prasad and Mahato have been charged with criminal conspiracy and forgery under the IPC.
The NIA has alleged that Prasad and Mahato forged identity documents to procure SIM cards and open bank accounts, which were allegedly used by co-accused persons in exchange for financial benefits.
Meanwhile, Muneer Kataria, who was earlier accused of being an overground worker for Lashkar-e-Taiba, has been discharged from the case after being granted pardon by the trial court in July 2025 and agreeing to testify as an approver.
