Jammu

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik walked out of Kathua jail on Tuesday after spending eight months in custody, following the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court’s decision to strike down his detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA).

Malik received a warm welcome as he returned home, with supporters greeting him with flowers, drumbeats, firecrackers and sweets. Party workers raised slogans in his support while celebrating his release.

Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani, in an order passed on Monday, set aside the detention order issued by the Doda district magistrate, observing that it was legally untenable and suffered from non-application of mind. Malik had been taken into custody in September 2025 on allegations of disturbing public order and was later lodged in Kathua jail.

He had approached the High Court through a habeas corpus petition on September 24, 2025, challenging his detention and seeking compensation of Rs 5 crore. The court had reserved its verdict on February 23 before finally quashing the PSA order this week.

According to his lawyer and AAP spokesperson Appu Singh Slathia, Malik was released after the completion of formalities early Tuesday morning. A large number of supporters gathered outside the prison gates to welcome him.

Addressing reporters after his release, Malik said his struggle for public welfare would continue and appealed to young people to actively participate in politics. He maintained that his movement was driven not by power but by principles and the welfare of the people.

Later, when he reached his Jammu residence, he was embraced by his emotional parents. Speaking to supporters, Malik described the development as a victory for the people. He said his imprisonment had been an attempt to silence public voices and aspirations.

Malik also praised India’s democratic system and Constitution, urging citizens to reject divisive politics. He said the country’s democratic values were its greatest strength and warned against any tendencies that weaken constitutional principles.

His father, Shammas Din, said the release had reaffirmed faith in truth and justice, adding that his son had always worked for the people’s welfare.

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Delhi AAP MLA Imran Hussain, who was present to welcome Malik, thanked the judiciary for overturning what he called an unjust case and said the verdict had restored faith in justice.