JKLF chief Yasin Malik has filed a 25-page affidavit in a Srinagar court denying his involvement in the 1990 murder of nurse Sarla Bhat. Malik stated he will no longer contest the trial proceedings and also announced his intent to divorce his wife, Mushaal Hussein Mullick.
Jailed Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik has formally submitted a 25-page affidavit to the TADA/POTA court in Srinagar, addressing the 1990 abduction and murder of nurse Sarla Bhat. In the document, Malik categorically denied his involvement in the crime, characterizing the allegations against him as a fabricated narrative.
The submission marks a significant turn in the legal proceedings initiated by the State Investigation Agency (SIA). The agency had filed a 737-page chargesheet in June 2026, which included forensic evidence, ballistic reports, and witness testimony aiming to link Malik to the targeted killing of the nurse from the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences. Prosecutors have relied on recovered cartridge cases and historical documentation, including a note purportedly left by the JKLF at the time, to build their case.
In a departure from standard legal defense, Malik has stated in his affidavit that he will no longer participate in the trial proceedings. He has formally requested that the court proceed with its judgment, expressing a stance that includes a request for the death penalty. This decision does not impact the separate life sentence he is currently serving for a prior terror-funding conviction.
Beyond the legal response to the murder charges, the affidavit also contained a personal announcement regarding his family status. Malik declared his decision to separate from his wife, Mushaal Hussein Mullick, citing his prolonged incarceration and the resulting inability to maintain communication.
This legal development is part of the SIA’s broader mandate to reopen and prosecute high-profile cold cases from the 1990s involving the Kashmiri Pandit community. The court has acknowledged the submission and has scheduled the next hearing for September 19, 2026, where the case will proceed to the next procedural stage.