A Delhi court has rejected the regular bail plea of Popular Front of India (PFI) founder and chairman E Abubacker in a case being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The agency has accused him and other PFI leaders of conspiring to overthrow the elected Government of India and establish an Islamic caliphate by 2047.
Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma, in an order dated July 15, said there were no fresh grounds to grant bail as Abubacker’s earlier bail applications had also been rejected.
“In view of the aforesaid appreciation and facts and circumstances of this case, I do not find any ground to grant bail to the applicant. Accordingly, the present bail application of applicant/accused E Abubacker stands dismissed,” the court said.
Defence Cites Health and Delay in Trial
Abubacker sought regular bail, arguing that his health had deteriorated and that there was no concrete case against him. His counsel also submitted that charges had already been framed and claimed there had been a delay in the trial, which justified his release.
However, the court rejected the argument, observing that the defence had failed to explain the reasons behind the alleged delay in judicial proceedings.
“The pendency of the matter before the court concerned where the chargesheet is filed, the reason for the delay and other administrative aspects are not highlighted by the learned counsel for the accused. Therefore, the delay in the trial is meritless,” the judge said.
NIA Opposes Bail
The NIA opposed the bail plea, stating that charges had already been framed based on sufficient evidence collected during the investigation. The agency also told the court that Abubacker was receiving proper medical treatment in jail.
The court noted that the Delhi High Court had earlier refused bail to Abubacker and observed that no new circumstances had emerged to justify a different decision. It also pointed out that this was the third bail application filed by the accused that had been dismissed.
Finding that charges had already been framed on the basis of sufficient material, the court held that no case for regular bail was made out.
Charges Framed Against PFI Leaders
The order comes weeks after the same court directed the framing of charges against 25 PFI members and the banned organisation under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
While ordering the framing of charges, the court had observed that there was “grave suspicion” of a larger conspiracy involving the accused.
“Considered as a whole, the material on record raises grave suspicion that the accused, acting through and on behalf of the Popular Front of India and its National Executive Council (NEC), agreed and acted in furtherance of a single conspiracy to overthrow the secular democratic Government of India and to establish an Islamic Caliphate under Sharia law in India by or before the year 2047 through an armed struggle against the State,” the court had observed.
Background of the Case
The NIA registered the case in April 2022 following directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs under provisions of the IPC and UAPA. Abubacker and several other PFI leaders were arrested during nationwide raids carried out in September 2022. The Centre later declared the PFI an unlawful organisation.
According to the NIA, the accused conspired to radicalise youth, organise terror training camps, raise funds for terrorist activities and promote communal enmity. The agency has also alleged that several senior RSS leaders were identified as potential targets.
With charges now framed, the trial is expected to begin later this month as the prosecution starts leading evidence against the accused.
