The Delhi High Court has declined to grant interim bail on medical grounds to Popular Front of India (PFI) leader A.S. Ismail, who is under trial in a terrorism-related case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
A division bench comprising Justices Subramonium Prasad and Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar passed the order on May 13, observing that Ismail was receiving adequate medical care while in judicial custody and that his health was improving.
“Material on record indicates that the appellant is being given proper treatment and he is showing improvement even when he is in incarceration,” the court noted. Citing a recent report submitted by a medical board from AIIMS, the court added that Ismail’s medical condition did not necessitate interim bail. “The condition of the appellant is not such that it will deteriorate if interim bail is not granted,” the bench held.
The court directed jail authorities to continue with the prescribed treatment regimen, including regular physiotherapy and blood pressure monitoring. It also instructed that Ismail be taken to AIIMS once every month for medical evaluation.
Ismail, who was arrested on September 22, 2022, is one of the 19 accused named in a chargesheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against PFI members. The agency alleges a broad conspiracy by PFI office-bearers and cadres to raise and channel funds—both domestically and internationally—through legal and illegal means for carrying out terrorist activities across India, particularly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.
The NIA has further alleged that Ismail played a significant role in radicalizing Muslim youth and inciting them against the Indian government and institutions, with the purported aim of establishing Islamic rule in the country.
The matter remains pending trial under various provisions of the UAPA.
