DELHI: The Delhi High Court rejected the bail application of E Abubacker on Tuesday. The former chairman of the Popular Front of India (PFI), was arrested in a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The case is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
ALSO READ: Death penalty for 15 PFI members in Kerala for BJP leader Ranjith Sreenivasan’s murder
A bench of justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain pronounced the verdict denying bail to Abubacker.
Senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishna, representing Abubacker, argued that there was no evidence to support the case against her client. She noted that Abubacker is over 70 years old, a cancer survivor, and is battling Parkinson’s disease.
The NIA’s counsel countered, stating that there was sufficient evidence indicating that camps were organized to train PFI cadres for illegal activities. He mentioned that there are multiple cases against Abubacker and expressed concern that no one would testify against him if he were released. The NIA also noted that the former chairman is receiving treatment for multiple ailments in jail.
Abubacker was arrested by the NIA in 2022 during a massive crackdown on the Popular Front of India. He moved to the Delhi High Court after the trial court denied bail to him. He sought bail on medical grounds.
ALSO READ: PFI’s master trainer Yakub arrested from Bihar’s Motihari
A large number of alleged PFI activists were detained or arrested in several states during the massive raids preceding the nationwide ban on the organization in September 2022.
The Popular Front of India (PFI) is a controversial Muslim organization that was banned by the Indian government on September 28, 2022, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for its alleged involvement in terrorism, targeted killings, and disturbing public order.
It was created in 2007 through the merger of three Muslim organizations in southern India. PFI has been accused of having links to banned Islamist groups like the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), and the Islamic State (ISIS).