- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has deferred its hearing on a plea from Erappungal Abubacker, the former Chairman of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), who is seeking bail for humanitarian and medical reasons. The hearing has been postponed until after the court’s winter break because the medical report from AIIMS Delhi has yet to be received, as stated by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju.
The court clarified that the ongoing proceedings will not prevent the High Court from reviewing Abubacker’s bail request on medical grounds related to a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
In the last hearing, the court directed that Abubacker undergo a medical examination at AIIMS Delhi and said that his bail consideration would depend on the doctor’s report. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued against granting bail, citing evidence that Abubacker was involved in tutoring people for terrorist activities and noted that he had previously refused treatment when hospitalized.
Earlier this year, the Delhi High Court found no compelling reason to grant him bail based on his medical condition, highlighting that he had not opted for admission to AIIMS despite being referred there. The court also dismissed his plea, stating there was no evidence of fundamental rights violations, and the trial court had already provided appropriate directions regarding his medical issues.
Abubacker has been in judicial custody since October 6, 2022, after his arrest by the NIA on September 22, 2022, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He claims to suffer from multiple health issues, including a rare form of esophageal cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, hypertension, diabetes, and vision loss. The PFI, labeled as an extremist Islamic organization, was banned by the Indian government under the UAPA in September 2022.
