Allegations serious; bail plea will be considered only on medical grounds: Supreme Court on ex-PFI chief

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the response of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to the bail plea filed by Abubacker E, the former chief of banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) [Abubacker E v National Investigation Agency].

A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Aravind Kumar, however, noted that the allegations were serious and it would only consider relief on only on medical grounds.

The Delhi High Court had in May denied bail to the former PFI chief in a case registered against him under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

This led to the appeal before the apex court.

Senior Advocate Aditya Sondhi and advocate D Kumanan appeared for Abubacker.

Abubacker was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) during a massive crackdown on the PFI in 2022 preceding the nationwide ban on the organisation and its affiliates.

The ban was imposed by the Central government on September 28, 2022, under UAPA due to accusations of connections with global terror groups such as ISIS.

As per the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the PFI, its members and office bearers hatched a criminal conspiracy to raise funds for committing acts of terror across the country and were conducting training camps to indoctrinate and train their cadre for this purpose.

Abubacker was arrested on September 22, 2022.

The Delhi High Court had earlier rejected a plea to place Abubacker under house arrest instead of putting him in jail.

Abubacker had contended before the High Court that there was no material to support the NIA's case against him under UAPA.

Further, he is 70 years of age and a cancer survivor who is battling Parkinson's disease and had made several visits to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) during his custody.

The NIA had told the High Court that there was material to show that camps were being organised to train cadre to carry out illegal activities.

There are several cases against Abubacker and if released, nobody would depose against him, the NIA had argued.