Jammu: Senior advocate Nirmal K Kotwal on Thursday recused himself from representing AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, who was recently detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Kotwal cited the circulation of videos in which Malik allegedly claimed that Jammu and Kashmir is not part of India and praised militants Burhan Wani and Masood Azhar.
“The unity and sovereignty of India are non-negotiable, and any act or statement undermining them cannot be condoned under any circumstances,” Kotwal, who also heads the Jammu wing of the High Court Bar Association, said in a statement.
Malik (37) was detained on September 8 in Doda district for allegedly disturbing public order and is currently lodged in Kathua jail. On September 14, AAP had announced a 10-member legal team led by Kotwal to challenge his detention.
Kotwal clarified that these videos were not brought to his notice by the party’s legal team during the briefing. “It has now come to my knowledge through social media that Malik purportedly made such statements. If true, they are extremely insensitive, irresponsible, and detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India,” he said.
“As an officer of the court and a citizen of this nation, I place national interest above all else. Guided by conscience, professional ethics, and commitment to integrity, I recuse myself from representing Malik in the PSA case,” Kotwal added.
