New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday reserved its order on the plea of former Popular Front of India (PFI) president E Abubakar seeking his release in the UAP case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency.
Abubakar, who was arrested by the agency during a massive crackdown on the banned organization in 2022 and is currently in judicial custody, sought bail on merit as well as medical grounds.
"Heard. Reserved for judgment," a bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain said after the counsel appearing for Abubakar and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) completed their arguments.
According to the NIA, the PFI, its officials and members hatched a criminal conspiracy to raise funds to carry out terror acts in different parts of the country and were organizing training camps to train their cadre for the purpose.The lawyer appearing for Abubakar argued that there was no material to sustain the NIA case against him under the anti-terrorism law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
He also said that the accused was over 70 years of age and was suffering from cancer and Parkinson's disease. Abubakar made several visits to AIIMS during his detention, his lawyer said.
NIA counsel opposed the plea, saying there was material available to show that the camps were being organized to train cadre to carry out illegal activities.
He said that there were many cases against Abubakar and if he was released, no one would testify against him.The court was also told that the accused is undergoing treatment in jail and there is no chance of his release due to his alleged ill health.
A large number of alleged PFI activists were detained or arrested in several states during the crackdown in 2022.
This was before the government imposed a nationwide ban on the organization and its affiliates under UAPA on September 28, 2022, accusing them of having "links" with global terrorist groups like ISIS.
In almost simultaneous raids as part of a multi-agency operation led by the NIA, PFI activists were detained or arrested in 11 states and Union Territories on charges of supporting terrorist activities in the country. Abubake was arrested on September 22, 2022.These raids were conducted in Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Delhi and Rajasthan.
In February, the High Court had directed the medical superintendent of Tiha Jail to ensure "effective" treatment for Abubakar on a regular basis.
It had also refused to put him under house arrest and said that if necessary, he would be admitted to hospital for treatment.
Abubakar, who was arrested by the agency during a massive crackdown on the banned organization in 2022 and is currently in judicial custody, sought bail on merit as well as medical grounds.
"Heard. Reserved for judgment," a bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain said after the counsel appearing for Abubakar and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) completed their arguments.
According to the NIA, the PFI, its officials and members hatched a criminal conspiracy to raise funds to carry out terror acts in different parts of the country and were organizing training camps to train their cadre for the purpose.The lawyer appearing for Abubakar argued that there was no material to sustain the NIA case against him under the anti-terrorism law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
He also said that the accused was over 70 years of age and was suffering from cancer and Parkinson's disease. Abubakar made several visits to AIIMS during his detention, his lawyer said.
NIA counsel opposed the plea, saying there was material available to show that the camps were being organized to train cadre to carry out illegal activities.
He said that there were many cases against Abubakar and if he was released, no one would testify against him.The court was also told that the accused is undergoing treatment in jail and there is no chance of his release due to his alleged ill health.
A large number of alleged PFI activists were detained or arrested in several states during the crackdown in 2022.
This was before the government imposed a nationwide ban on the organization and its affiliates under UAPA on September 28, 2022, accusing them of having "links" with global terrorist groups like ISIS.
In almost simultaneous raids as part of a multi-agency operation led by the NIA, PFI activists were detained or arrested in 11 states and Union Territories on charges of supporting terrorist activities in the country. Abubake was arrested on September 22, 2022.These raids were conducted in Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Delhi and Rajasthan.
In February, the High Court had directed the medical superintendent of Tiha Jail to ensure "effective" treatment for Abubakar on a regular basis.
It had also refused to put him under house arrest and said that if necessary, he would be admitted to hospital for treatment.
