The Delhi High Court has directed Tihar jail authorities to submit a detailed report on the health condition of E Abubacker, former chairman of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), who is currently lodged in prison under charges filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Justice Ravinder Dudeja passed the order on August 29 while hearing an application filed by Abubacker, seeking permission to undergo treatment at a private hospital. At present, he is receiving medical care at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
In his plea, Abubacker alleged that the treatment at AIIMS was unsatisfactory and claimed that the staff’s conduct towards him was hostile. He expressed willingness to bear the expenses of treatment at a private facility.
The NIA opposed the plea, asserting that the accused was already receiving medical attention at one of the country’s premier hospitals. “What else does he want?” the agency’s counsel asked while resisting the application.
The Supreme Court had earlier this year rejected Abubacker’s plea for bail on medical grounds after considering his medical reports. The apex court also declined his alternative request to be kept under house arrest.
Similarly, the Delhi High Court had dismissed his bail plea on May 28 last year, observing that the charges against him appeared prima facie true. The bench had relied on the allegations in the charge sheet, statements of protected witnesses, and his past association with the banned Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) to uphold the prosecution’s case under UAPA.
According to the NIA, PFI leaders, including Abubacker, allegedly conspired to raise funds for carrying out acts of terror across the country. The agency further claimed that the organisation was conducting training camps to indoctrinate and prepare its cadre for violent activities.
Abubacker was arrested during a nationwide crackdown on PFI in 2022. The High Court has now issued notice to the NIA and sought its response by November 26, when the matter will be taken up again.
