Shah, a Kashmiri editor and columnist, was arrested in February 2022 for publishing “anti-national content.” After being held for 22 days without heat or electricity and then briefly released on bail, he was re-arrested. In April 2022, Shah was booked for a third time under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. After being detained for 18 months, a judge granted Shah bail and he was released in November 2023.