PFI Chairman E Abubacker Denied Bail Again In NIA Case; Delhi Court Cites No Change In Circumstances
Delhi court rejected the regular bail plea of PFI founder E Abubacker in the UAPA case alleging a conspiracy to overthrow the Indian government and establish an Islamic caliphate by 2047
A Delhi court has rejected the regular bail plea of Popular Front of India (PFI) founder and chairman E Abubacker, who is facing prosecution in the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) case alleging a conspiracy to overthrow the Government of India and establish an Islamic caliphate by 2047.
Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma, in an order dated July 15, held that there were no grounds to grant bail, observing that there had been no change in circumstances since Abubacker's earlier bail pleas were rejected.
"In view of the aforesaid appreciation and facts and circumstances of this case, I do not find any ground to grant bail to the applicant. Accordingly, the present bail application of applicant/accused E Abubacker stands dismissed," the Court held.
Abubacker had sought regular bail on the grounds that his health was deteriorating, the trial had been delayed, and there was no concrete case against him. His counsel submitted that charges had already been framed and argued that the prolonged judicial proceedings justified his release on bail.
Rejecting the contention regarding delay, the Court observed that the defence had failed to explain the reasons behind the alleged delay in trial.
"The pendency of the matter before the court concerned where the chargesheet is filed, the reason for the delay and other administrative aspects are not highlighted by the learned counsel for the accused. Therefore, the delay in the trial is meritless," the Court noted.
The NIA opposed the bail plea, submitting through Special Public Prosecutor Rahul Tyagi that charges had already been framed based on sufficient material collected during the investigation and that Abubacker was receiving appropriate medical treatment in prison.
The Court also took note of an earlier Delhi High Court order refusing bail to Abubacker and held that no fresh circumstances had emerged to justify a different view. It observed that this was the third bail application filed by the accused that had been rejected.
Finding that charges had already been framed on the basis of sufficient evidence, the Court ruled that no case for grant of regular bail was made out.
The order comes days after the same court directed framing of charges against 25 PFI members and the banned organisation under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). While ordering charges, the Court had observed that there was a "grave suspicion" of a larger conspiracy to overthrow the elected government and establish an Islamic caliphate in India by the year 2047.
Court Found 'Grave Suspicion' of Larger Conspiracy
While directing the framing of charges earlier, the Special Court observed that the material collected during investigation disclosed a prima facie case against the accused.
The court had observed: "Considered as a whole, the material on record raises grave suspicion that the accused, acting through and on behalf of the Popular Front of India and its National Executive Council (NEC), agreed and acted in furtherance of a single conspiracy to overthrow the secular democratic Government of India and to establish an Islamic Caliphate under Sharia law in India by or before the year 2047 through an armed struggle against the State."
Background of the Case
The NIA registered the case on April 13, 2022, pursuant to directions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, invoking provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The accused were arrested during the nationwide NIA crackdown against the PFI in September 2022, following intelligence inputs regarding the organisation's alleged unlawful activities. The Central Government subsequently declared the PFI an unlawful organisation.
After completing its investigation, the NIA filed the main chargesheet along with supplementary chargesheets against the organisation and its leaders.
According to the agency, the accused allegedly conspired to overthrow the elected government, radicalise youth, organise terror training camps, raise funds for terrorist activities and promote enmity between communities. The agency has further alleged that several senior RSS leaders were identified as potential targets.
During the proceedings, Special Public Prosecutor Rahul Tyagi, assisted by Jatin Khatri and Amit Rohilla, appeared for the NIA, while Senior Advocates S. Balan, A. Nowfal and Saipan Dastgir represented the accused.
With charges now formally framed, the trial will commence later this month as the prosecution begins leading evidence against the accused.
Bench: Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma
Order Date: July 16, 2026