New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday (January 17) refused to grant bail to former Popular Front of India (PFI) chairman E Abubacker on medical grounds in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Abubacker, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) during a massive crackdown on the PFI in 2022, had moved the top court challenging a Delhi High Court refusing to enlarge him on bail. He sought his release on both merit as well as on medical grounds.
Not inclined to release at this stage: Apex Court
A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal, after going through the medical report of Abubacker, said that it was not inclined to release him at this stage.
The bench granted liberty to Abubacker to approach the trial court for bail.
The bench also rejected the submission made by Abubacker’s submission for his house arrest if he is not released on bail.
Abubacker’s while referring to his medical report, urged the top court to release him, submitting that he was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who appeared for the NIA, opposed his plea foe bail, submitting that he has been provided various treatments for all the medical conditions he had raised.
What did the High Court say while dismissing Abubacker’s plea?
The High Court, which had on May 28 last year dismissed Abubacker’s bail plea said that the allegations and averments in charge-sheet, the tone and tenor of the speeches made by him and the overall impact of the material so collected by the investigating agency leave no element of uncertainty about the fact that the prosecution’s case with respect to the commission of offences under the UAPA is prima facie true.
Regarding Abubacker’s medical condition, the High Court said, “There is no doubt that appellant is suffering from various ailments but fact remains that learned Trial Court has already given due consideration to his medical condition and has already issued slew of directions.”
What has the NIA said?
As per the NIA, PFI, its officer bearers and its members hatched a criminal conspiracy to raise funds for committing acts of terror in various parts of country and they were conducting training camps to indoctrinate and train their cadres for this purpose.
