Pahalgam Attack Case: NIA Court Issues Non-Bailable Warrant Against Lashkar-E-Taiba Chief Hafiz Saeed
Special NIA Court in Jammu says Hafiz Saeed has been evading arrest; warrant issued to secure his custody for fair, complete and effective investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack case
A Special NIA Court in Jammu issued an open-dated non-bailable warrant against Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Hafiz Saeed in connection with the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack investigation
A Special NIA Court at Jammu last week issued an open-dated non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed in connection with the investigation into the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack case.
Special Judge Prem Sagar passed the order on an application moved by the NIA under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), holding that the accused's arrest and custodial interrogation were necessary for a “fair, complete and effective investigation."
According to the NIA's application, Saeed has been chargesheeted in the supplementary chargesheet filed in RC No. 02/2025/NIA/JMU for various serious offences punishable under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The agency informed the Court that Saeed, a resident of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan, is a designated terrorist under the UAPA, founder of the proscribed terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and had been deliberately evading arrest.
It sought the issuance of an open-dated non-bailable warrant to facilitate further proceedings and enable legal action against him during the investigation.
After hearing the NIA and examining the application, the Court directed issuance of the non-bailable warrant, observing that Saeed's arrest and custodial interrogation were necessary for a fair, complete and effective investigation.
The warrant has been directed to be forwarded to the Director General of Investigation, NIA, Jammu, for execution in accordance with law.
The development came two days after the NIA announced that it had filed a supplementary chargesheet before the Special NIA Court, naming Pakistan-based terrorist and LeT/TRF chief & founder Hafiz Saeed in the Pahalgam terror attack case.
According to the agency, Saeed has been chargesheeted both in his individual capacity and as the chief of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its active proxy organisation, The Resistance Front (TRF).
The NIA said it has also invoked provisions relating to waging war against India and hatching a conspiracy from across the border.
It stated that the supplementary chargesheet, filed in continuation of the original 1,597-page chargesheet, contains details of Pakistan's conspiracy, Hafiz Saeed's role, and supporting evidence collected through "meticulous scientific investigation" and on-ground examination.
The agency recalled that its original chargesheet filed on December 15, 2025, had arraigned Pakistani handler Sajid Jatt, three terrorists killed during Operation Mahadev in July 2025, and two arrested accused.
It had also chargesheeted the proscribed LeT/TRF terrorist organisation as a legal entity for its alleged role in planning, facilitating and executing the Pahalgam terror attack.
The Pahalgam terror attack, carried out on April 22, 2025, involved religion-based targeted killings by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, according to the NIA.
Twenty-five tourists and one local civilian were killed in the attack. The case was initially registered by the Jammu and Kashmir Police before being transferred to the NIA by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The agency has said it continues to investigate the case to unravel the complete conspiracy by Pakistan, which it alleges has been actively sponsoring terrorism on Indian soil from across the border.
Case Title: NIA v. Sajjid Jatt @ Saifullah & Ors.
Bench: Special Judge Prem Sagar