New Delhi, May 29, 2024: The Delhi High Court has dismissed a bail plea by Erappungal Abubacker, former Chairman of the Popular Front of India (PFI), in a case investigated under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Arrested during a significant crackdown on the banned organization in 2022, Abubacker sought release on both merits and medical grounds. However, a bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain rejected his appeal, stating, “We hereby dismiss the appeal.”
The NIA has accused the PFI, along with its office bearers and members, of conspiring to raise funds for terrorist activities and conducting training camps to indoctrinate and train cadres. The nationwide raids in September 2022 led to the detention or arrest of numerous alleged PFI activists across 11 states and Union Territories, including Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Delhi.
Abubacker, who has been in judicial custody since his arrest on September 22, 2022, was initially denied interim bail on medical grounds by a trial court. The High Court had previously directed Tihar Jail’s Medical Superintendent to ensure regular treatment for his ailments but refused to place him under house arrest, instead offering hospital admission if necessary.
The Indian government banned the PFI and several associated organizations for five years on September 28, 2022, under the UAPA, citing links with global terror groups such as ISIS.
While it is crucial to punish individuals or organizations genuinely associated with terrorism, it is equally important to ensure that innocent people are not wrongfully penalized. Thorough and meticulous investigations are necessary to maintain public faith in the judicial system and prevent the erosion of trust.
