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Over four months after the sensational incident, the Principal Sessions Court, Jammu, on Friday rejected the bail application of Kamal Singh, an elderly man accused in the high-profile attempt-to-murder case involving former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah.

The court held that the seriousness of the allegations, the potential impact on public order, and the possibility of the accused repeating the offence weighed heavily against granting him bail.

The bail application was heard by Principal Sessions Judge R.N. Watal, who on Friday dismissed the plea filed by the accused.

The applicant, Kamal Singh, represented by Advocate Prince Khanna, sought bail on the grounds of innocence, advanced age, and various medical ailments, including neurological and psychiatric disorders. The defence argued that the accused had no intention of harming Dr. Farooq Abdullah and had merely attempted to approach him during a wedding function to take a photograph. It was also contended that the investigation was substantially complete and that the accused deserved bail in view of his medical condition.

Opposing the application, Public Prosecutor Hemanshu Parkash argued that the allegations involved a grave and politically motivated attempt to murder a prominent public figure. He submitted that granting bail at this stage could undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system, create fear among witnesses, and encourage similar acts. The prosecution further informed the court that the accused had allegedly stated during questioning that he would attempt to kill Dr. Farooq Abdullah again if given another opportunity and had expressed no remorse for the incident.

In its detailed order, the court observed that offences involving attacks on public figures are not merely crimes against an individual but have far-reaching consequences for public order, democratic stability, and the rule of law. The judge held that an individual’s liberty must be balanced against the larger societal interest, particularly in cases involving serious allegations with significant public implications.

The court further noted that the prosecution’s material disclosed prima facie evidence of premeditation, recovery of the weapon, an alleged motive, and statements suggesting that the accused could repeat the offence if released. It observed that these circumstances raised serious concerns regarding public safety and the administration of justice.

Rejecting the defence’s plea regarding the accused’s alleged mental illness and medical condition, the court said no convincing medical evidence had been produced to establish that he was suffering from any disorder that would justify the grant of bail. It further observed that psychiatric treatment and medical care could be provided while the accused remained in judicial custody and that the question of legal insanity would be determined during the trial based on the evidence presented.

Concluding that the nature of the offence, the possibility of its repetition, the larger public interest, and the likelihood of the accused absconding or influencing the course of the trial outweighed the grounds raised by the defence, Principal Sessions Judge R.N. Watal dismissed the bail application. The court clarified that the observations made in the order were confined solely to deciding the bail plea and would not prejudice the merits of the trial.

Elderly man made abortive attempt on Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s life

The assassination attempt occurred on March 11, 2026, when Dr. Farooq Abdullah was attending a wedding function in the Greater Kailash locality of Jammu. As he was leaving the venue, a man allegedly approached him and attempted to fire at him from close range with a pistol.

Security personnel, however, reacted swiftly and overpowered the attacker before he could carry out the act. Dr. Abdullah escaped unhurt due to the prompt response of his security personnel and commandos present at the venue.

Police identified the accused as 63-year-old Kamal Singh Jamwal, a resident of Jammu, who was immediately taken into custody. During preliminary questioning, he reportedly claimed to have harboured a personal grudge against Dr. Abdullah for several years.

Officials added that the weapon allegedly used in the attempted attack was a licensed firearm.

After questioning, Kamal Singh Jamwal was produced before a court in Jammu amid tight security. Police sought his remand, stating that further interrogation was necessary to ascertain the motive behind the attack and to verify whether he had any links with any organisation.

SIT was  constituted after high-profile attack

Within 24 hours of the incident, the Jammu and Kashmir Police constituted a seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the assassination attempt on Dr. Farooq Abdullah.

The team was tasked with conducting a comprehensive investigation into the incident and submitting its findings at the earliest.

According to the order, on March 11, Dr. Abdullah was attending a marriage ceremony at a banquet hall in the Greater Kailash area of Jammu. At around 10:10 pm, while leaving the venue, an individual allegedly brandished a revolver and attempted to open fire at him from close range.

However, the attempt was foiled due to the prompt action of the police personnel deployed for his security. Following the incident, a case under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3/25 of the Arms Act was registered at Gangyal Police Station.

The SIT comprised SSP Sanjay Sharma, SP Headquarters Irshad Hussain Rather, DySP Arvind Kumar Sambyal, Inspector Saroop Singh, Inspector Paramjeet Singh, Inspector Sanjeev Chib (SHO, Gangyal Police Station), and Inspector Shariq Majeed.

The team was directed to complete the investigation expeditiously while adhering to the prescribed statutory timeline.