"NIA Challenges Madras High Court's Bail Grant to Lawyer M Mohammed Abbas Allegedly Linked to PFI in Supreme Court Appeal
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against Tuesday's decision by the Madras High Court, which granted bail to Madurai-based lawyer M Mohammed Abbas, accused of having ties to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).
On Wednesday, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the NIA, requested a stay on the bail order during the mentioning stage. However, the Bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela Trivedi clarified that they could not grant a stay without reviewing the case files.
Nevertheless, the Bench indicated that it would hear the matter and scheduled it for a hearing on August 5, subject to the orders of the Chief Justice of India.
The High Court's order in question dismissed the NIA's oral request for leave to challenge the bail order before the Supreme Court under Article 134 of the Constitution.
In his quashing petition, Abbas had alleged that his arrest was a result of malafide intentions by the NIA, claiming that he had become an easy target due to a Facebook post and a complaint he filed against one of the agency's Superintendents of Police. The High Court ruled that the issue of malafide would be considered during the trial.
Additionally, the High Court closed the habeas corpus petition filed by Abbas' family members after his arrest.
As part of the bail conditions, the High Court ordered Abbas to execute a bond and provide two sureties amounting to ₹1 lakh. He was also directed to stay in Chennai, cooperate with the investigation agency, and keep his mobile phone active and charged at all times to ensure he remains reachable.
M Mohammed Abbas and four others were arrested by the NIA on May 9 in connection with the Tamil Nadu PFI criminal conspiracy case. They were charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for their alleged involvement as PFI members.
According to an NIA press release, the investigation revealed that the accused had conspired and planned to eliminate individuals considered adversaries of the PFI ideology and opposed to the outfit's ambitions of establishing an Islamic State in India by 2047.
The release further stated that the accused had radicalized numerous PFI cadres, particularly youth, handpicked by the organization's leadership, and had trained them in the use of various weapons to carry out assaults, maim, and kill their adversaries."
TAGS: NIA Supreme Court Madras High Court bail grant lawyer M Mohammed Abbas PFI links appeal stay mentioning stage case files hearing Chief Justice of India quashing petition malafide Facebook post complaint arrest triggers habeas corpus petition sureties Unlawful Activities Prevention Act Tamil Nadu PFI criminal conspiracy case adversaries radicalized Islamic State NIA press release.
