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Synopsis

The Supreme Court today issued notice in a petition challenging the bail granted to few members of Popular Front of India (PFI), accused in the murder of RSS leader Sreenivasan.

A division bench of the court led by Justice AS Oka has proposed to hear pleas of those granted bail and refused together. The matter will now be taken up in January 2025.

The bench also comprising Justice AG Masih also called out the Registry for not listing earlier all related petitions in the case.

Kerala High Court in September this year had granted bail to a few of the accused while denying relief to others.

Sreenivasan was attacked at his motorbike shop on April 16, 2022 and allegedly murdered in retaliation for the killing of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activist Subair, who was reportedly hacked to death by RSS workers in Elappully, Palakkad.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the probe, registering an FIR against the accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and UAPA. The accused, including Shihab P, Kaja Hussain, and Jaleel P, had earlier been denied bail by a Special Court in Ernakulam, prompting them to move the High Court.

Notably, on September 28, 2022, the Government of India designated the PFI as an "unlawful association" and imposed a five-year ban on the organisation under the UAPA.

Case Title: SADDAM HUSSAIN MK AND ORS. vs. UNION OF INDIA