'Maharaja of Kashmir' claims immunity in Pakistan High Commission attack case

LONDON: The Indian-origin man who attacked Pakistan High Commission London during the recent conflict between Pakistan and India had asserted before the Southwark Crown Court that he is the sovereign Maharaja of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and must be given immunity from prosecution prior in December 2022.

Ankit Love appeared before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he asserted again that he (Ankit Love) was (the) His Highness Maharaja of Kashmir and under British legislation and is "therefore entitled to immunity under section 20 of the State Immunity Act 1978 ("the 1978 Act")".

The court heard that in 2022, judge Griffith at the Southwark Crown Court had demanded by formal court order against the Secretary of State to provide a certificate with in seven days under Section 21 of the 1978 Act to address whether Jammu and Kashmir is recognised as a State for the purposes of Part 1 of the 1978 Act; and if the State is so recognised, whether Love is regarded as the Head of that State.

In his defense, Kashmiri origin Love has claimed he possesses a certificate under the State Immunity Act 1978.

The certificate that he produced before the court, dated December 13, 2022, states: "Under the authority of His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs conferred on me and in accordance with section 21(a) of the State Immunity Act 1978 ("the Act"), I Jeremy Pilmore-Bedford, Deputy Director of Protocol at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office ("FCDO") hereby certify that: 1. His Majesty's Government does accord recognition to Jammu and Kashmir as a State for the purposes of Part I of the Act; and 2. The FCDO has a record of Mr Ankit Love (born in August 1983) as a sovereign head of State on which immunities and privileges are conferred by Part I of the Act."

The judge adjourned the case for two weeks till 10 June, for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider the certificate presented before the court today.

Outside the court, Love told Geo News he was emotionally distressed when he attacked the Pakistan High Commission soon after the Pahalgam attack.

"My mother Jay Mala passed away two years ago exactly around the same time on 26 April. This was on her anniversary, very emotional night for me given the fact that she died in mysterious circumstances and I am still in a legal battle with the Home Ministry of India to have the results of my mother's post-mortem revealed to me.

"My father Prof. Bhim Singh, founder of the Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party died in a similar situation on 31 May 2022. I have no doubt that the BJP's Indian state agents are behind the mysterious deaths of my parents. I went outside the Pakistan High Commission in protest, not to break the law. We as Kashmiris have suffered and at least three major regional players have played games with us."

Not many know that Love previously attacked the Indian High Commission and caused damage to it but got away with it. "The prosecution says I have caused damage of under £5000 to the Pakistan High Commission. I caused damage of over £10,000 to the Indian High Commission a few years back. That was a rightful protest. I was protesting outside the Indian High Commission against the illegality of the undemocratic attempted annexation by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019, and the 1991 Kunan Poshpora incident where all women in an entire village were gang raped by security forces, and no court marshal till date has happed."

The British-Kashmiri man said he loved Lahore, as his ancestoral kinsman Raja Dhian Singh Dogra lived there in the 19th century who was the longest serving prime minister of the Lahore State, and wished to visit the city one day.

"Its my dream to visit Lahore one day but I'm not sure if I will get the visa after what happened. Banned by India and now probably the same from Pakistan. I understand Gandhi and Jinnah faced sanctions too."

Last month, Love was formally charged with criminal damage following an incident at the Pakistani High Commission in London, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

According to a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police, Love, 41, with no fixed address, was formally charged on Sunday, April 27. "He was remanded in custody to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 28 April," the spokesperson said in a statement.