Jammu: A Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court on July 2 rejected Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) supremo Yasin Malik's plea for exemption from personal appearance and issued a fresh non-bailable arrest warrant against him in connection with the alleged recovery of $ 1 lakh from his aides.

Malik's counsel prayed that the JKLF leader be exempted from personal appearance in the court due to health reasons, but the presiding officer of the court P N Razdan rejected the plea and sent fresh warrant against Malik to the concerned police station for execution.

Opposing Malik's plea, the prosecution argued that he was avoiding appearance in the court due to which an important case was dragging on.

Except for Malik, the other accused Shamima alias Shazia, who is on bail, and Mushtaq Ahmed Dar, now in remand, were present in the court.

Malik and others are facing trial in connection with the seizure of $ 1 lakh and Rs 19,000 in Indian currency from Shamima and Mushtaq, who were arrested on March 23, 2002.

PTI