NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court on Friday turned down a plea filed by Erappungal Abubacker, the former Chairman of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), seeking bail on humanitarian and medical grounds.
After a perusal of the medical reports, a bench headed by Justice M. M. Sundresh opined that it was not inclined to release Abubacker on medical bail at this stage, clarifying that he may apply for bail before the trial court, in case, his health condition deteriorates further. It also declined to entertain Abubacker’s alternative plea to place him under house arrest.
In an earlier hearing, the Justice Sundresh-led Bench had remarked that there was “nothing so serious in the medical reports” of the former PFI chief. The Supreme Court had directed a panel of doctors in AIIMS, Delhi to examine Abubacker. It had ordered that the former PFI chief be taken to AIIMS Delhi, where a panel of doctors would conduct his detailed examination as an in-patient and it would consider the question of grant of bail based on the medical report.
Abubacker was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on September 22, 2022, and charged under the provisions of the UAPA. He has been in judicial custody since October 6, 2022.
In May 2024, dismissing Abubacker’s plea, the Delhi HC said: “There is nothing before us which may suggest infringement of his fundamental rights. As regards, his medical complications, learned trial court has already given the requisite directions, which we also feel to be very appropriate.”
According to Abubacker, he is suffering from multiple ailments, including a rare type of oesophagus cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, hypertension, diabetes, and loss of vision. The PFI was banned by the Union government in September 2022 under the UAPA. -IANS
