New Delhi: Alleging that Talib Hussain, a key witness in the Kathua rape and murder incident involving a eight-year-old-girl, has been in illegal custody, the Supreme Court has been moved by his cousin seeking Talib’s release immediately.

A three-judge bench agreed to list the writ petition for hearing on Wednesday on a “mention” made by Sunil Fernandez, counsel for the petitioner. The apex court had already transferred the Kathua rape criminal trial to a court in Pathankot in Punjab.

The petitioner, Mumtaz Ahmed Khan, a cousin of Talib Hussain, in a writ petition sought a direction to the J&K government for immediate release of Talib Hussain from custody.