The Supreme Court on Wednesday annulled the bail granted by the Madras High Court to eight members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), emphasizing that national security is of “paramount importance.” The accused — Barakathullah, Idris, Mohamed Abuthahir, Khalid Mohammed, Syed Ishaq, Khaja Mohaideen, Yasar Arafath, and Fayaz Ahmed — were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in September 2022 in Tamil Nadu. They face charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly planning terrorist activities and promoting extremist ideologies. The Centre banned the PFI in September 2022, designating it an “unlawful association.”
The Madras High Court had granted bail to the accused on October 19 last year, a decision that was challenged by the federal anti-terror agency before the top court.
Revoking the high court’s decision, the Supreme Court stated, “National security is always of paramount importance, and any act supporting terrorist activities, whether violent or non-violent, must be restricted.”
The court noted that the NIA’s charge sheet presented prima facie evidence supporting the accusations against the defendants.
“Given the nature and severity of the alleged offenses and their criminal backgrounds, the high court should not have taken a lenient view, especially when there was sufficient material indicating their prima facie involvement under the UAPA,” stated the bench led by Justice Bela M. Trivedi.
The bench further emphasized that the UAPA imposes reasonable restrictions on civil liberties “in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India.”
With the charge sheet already filed in the trial court, the bench instructed the special court to expedite the trial process in accordance with the law, uninfluenced by the Supreme Court’s observations.
