India, March 12 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah in a 2017 terror funding case, citing his long incarceration and the delay in prosecution.

"Bail granted. A detailed order giving reasons will be passed later," said a bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. The bench told the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to recommend stringent conditions on Shah during the bail period.

Shah's lawyers, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves and advocate Satya Mitra, said their client has remained in custody in one case or the other for 38 years. The NIA denied this and said he spent just over eight years in custody in about 40 criminal cases.

The bench told NIA, "Delay is one aspect that you...