NIA Court issues non-bailable warrant against LeT chief Hafiz Saeed in Pahalgam terror attack case
July 14, 2026
5 min read
Jammu, July 14: In a significant development in the investigation into the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, a Special Court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Jammu has issued an open-dated non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and designated terrorist Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, holding that his arrest and custodial interrogation are necessary for a fair, complete and effective investigation.
The warrant was issued by the Special Judge of the NIA Court on July 8, two days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary chargesheet in the case naming Saeed among the accused. The order marks a significant legal step in the agency’s efforts to establish the larger conspiracy behind the Pahalgam terror attack, which investigators have linked to Pakistan-based terrorist infrastructure.
According to court records, the case is titled NIA versus Sajjid Jatt alias Saifullah and others and has been registered under Sections 147, 148, 149, 150 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The non-bailable warrant was issued following an application filed by the NIA through its Assistant Investigating Officer (AIO), Inspector Arun Sharma. In the application moved under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the investigating officer informed the court that a supplementary chargesheet had already been filed against Hafiz Muhammad Saeed in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack case registered as RC No. 02/2025/NIA/JMU.
The agency submitted that Saeed was deliberately evading arrest and sought issuance of an open-dated non-bailable warrant to facilitate further legal proceedings and enable necessary action during the course of the ongoing investigation.
The court, after hearing the submissions of the Assistant Investigating Officer and examining the application, observed that the circumstances warranted issuance of a non-bailable warrant against the Pakistan-based terror mastermind.
In its order, the Special Judge held that the arrest and custodial interrogation of Hafiz Saeed were essential for conducting a “fair, complete and effective investigation.” The court accordingly directed that the non-bailable warrant of arrest be issued against Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and forwarded it to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), NIA, Jammu, for execution in accordance with the procedure prescribed under law.
The order authorises the investigating agency to execute the warrant whenever the accused is apprehended or otherwise brought within the reach of Indian law.
The NIA informed the court that Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, son of Kamal-ud-Din and a resident of Sargodha in Pakistan’s Punjab province, is a designated terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The agency stated that Saeed is the founder of the proscribed terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba and continues to operate from Pakistan.
According to the application, he is deliberately avoiding arrest despite being named in the investigation and has remained beyond the reach of Indian law enforcement agencies. The court accepted the agency’s contention that legal proceedings against the absconding accused required issuance of an open-dated warrant to facilitate future investigative and judicial action.
The warrant follows the filing of a supplementary chargesheet by the NIA, indicating that investigators have gathered additional evidence regarding the broader conspiracy behind the Pahalgam attack. A supplementary chargesheet is filed when investigators collect fresh evidence or identify additional accused after submission of the original chargesheet. By naming Hafiz Saeed in the supplementary chargesheet, the NIA has sought to establish the alleged role of Pakistan-based terrorist leadership in planning, facilitating or directing the attack.
Officials have maintained that the investigation is continuing and further legal action may follow as additional evidence is collected.
Seventy-six-year-old Hafiz Saeed is widely regarded as one of India’s most wanted terrorists. He is accused of masterminding the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, in which 166 people were killed after coordinated assaults by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists at multiple locations across Mumbai.
India has consistently accused Saeed of directing terrorist operations against the country from Pakistani territory. He has long been designated as a terrorist by India and several international bodies, while the United Nations has also listed him under its sanctions regime against terrorism. Despite repeated demands from India for his extradition and prosecution, Saeed is believed to be living in Pakistan, where Indian authorities allege he continues to enjoy protection.
Although the issuance of a non-bailable warrant does not by itself ensure the arrest of an accused residing outside India, it is an important judicial step that strengthens the legal proceedings against him and enables the investigating agency to pursue further action under the law. The open-dated warrant remains valid until executed or cancelled by a competent court, allowing authorities to act immediately if the accused comes within their jurisdiction.
The NIA has been conducting an extensive investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, examining the operational network, financial links, logistical support and cross-border conspiracy behind the incident. The agency has already arrested several accused and filed chargesheets in the case while continuing to probe the involvement of Pakistan-based handlers and terrorist organisations.
With the issuance of the non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed, the investigation has entered another significant phase, underscoring the agency’s efforts to legally pursue those allegedly responsible for planning and directing terror activities from across the border. Officials indicated that the probe remains active and further supplementary chargesheets or legal proceedings may be initiated as additional evidence emerges.
The warrant was issued by the Special Judge of the NIA Court on July 8, two days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary chargesheet in the case naming Saeed among the accused. The order marks a significant legal step in the agency’s efforts to establish the larger conspiracy behind the Pahalgam terror attack, which investigators have linked to Pakistan-based terrorist infrastructure.
According to court records, the case is titled NIA versus Sajjid Jatt alias Saifullah and others and has been registered under Sections 147, 148, 149, 150 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 38, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The non-bailable warrant was issued following an application filed by the NIA through its Assistant Investigating Officer (AIO), Inspector Arun Sharma. In the application moved under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the investigating officer informed the court that a supplementary chargesheet had already been filed against Hafiz Muhammad Saeed in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack case registered as RC No. 02/2025/NIA/JMU.
The agency submitted that Saeed was deliberately evading arrest and sought issuance of an open-dated non-bailable warrant to facilitate further legal proceedings and enable necessary action during the course of the ongoing investigation.
The court, after hearing the submissions of the Assistant Investigating Officer and examining the application, observed that the circumstances warranted issuance of a non-bailable warrant against the Pakistan-based terror mastermind.
In its order, the Special Judge held that the arrest and custodial interrogation of Hafiz Saeed were essential for conducting a “fair, complete and effective investigation.” The court accordingly directed that the non-bailable warrant of arrest be issued against Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and forwarded it to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), NIA, Jammu, for execution in accordance with the procedure prescribed under law.
The order authorises the investigating agency to execute the warrant whenever the accused is apprehended or otherwise brought within the reach of Indian law.
The NIA informed the court that Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, son of Kamal-ud-Din and a resident of Sargodha in Pakistan’s Punjab province, is a designated terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The agency stated that Saeed is the founder of the proscribed terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba and continues to operate from Pakistan.
According to the application, he is deliberately avoiding arrest despite being named in the investigation and has remained beyond the reach of Indian law enforcement agencies. The court accepted the agency’s contention that legal proceedings against the absconding accused required issuance of an open-dated warrant to facilitate future investigative and judicial action.
The warrant follows the filing of a supplementary chargesheet by the NIA, indicating that investigators have gathered additional evidence regarding the broader conspiracy behind the Pahalgam attack. A supplementary chargesheet is filed when investigators collect fresh evidence or identify additional accused after submission of the original chargesheet. By naming Hafiz Saeed in the supplementary chargesheet, the NIA has sought to establish the alleged role of Pakistan-based terrorist leadership in planning, facilitating or directing the attack.
Officials have maintained that the investigation is continuing and further legal action may follow as additional evidence is collected.
Seventy-six-year-old Hafiz Saeed is widely regarded as one of India’s most wanted terrorists. He is accused of masterminding the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, in which 166 people were killed after coordinated assaults by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists at multiple locations across Mumbai.
India has consistently accused Saeed of directing terrorist operations against the country from Pakistani territory. He has long been designated as a terrorist by India and several international bodies, while the United Nations has also listed him under its sanctions regime against terrorism. Despite repeated demands from India for his extradition and prosecution, Saeed is believed to be living in Pakistan, where Indian authorities allege he continues to enjoy protection.
Although the issuance of a non-bailable warrant does not by itself ensure the arrest of an accused residing outside India, it is an important judicial step that strengthens the legal proceedings against him and enables the investigating agency to pursue further action under the law. The open-dated warrant remains valid until executed or cancelled by a competent court, allowing authorities to act immediately if the accused comes within their jurisdiction.
The NIA has been conducting an extensive investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, examining the operational network, financial links, logistical support and cross-border conspiracy behind the incident. The agency has already arrested several accused and filed chargesheets in the case while continuing to probe the involvement of Pakistan-based handlers and terrorist organisations.
With the issuance of the non-bailable warrant against Hafiz Saeed, the investigation has entered another significant phase, underscoring the agency’s efforts to legally pursue those allegedly responsible for planning and directing terror activities from across the border. Officials indicated that the probe remains active and further supplementary chargesheets or legal proceedings may be initiated as additional evidence emerges.