Delhi High Court refuses plea to place former PFI chief E Abubacker under house arrest instead of jail

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said that it will not pass orders to place former Popular Front of India (PFI) chief Erappungal Abubacker under house arrest instead of lodging him in jail..A Division Bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh, however, said that it will consider Abubacker's plea for interim bail on medical grounds and better treatment.The Court, therefore, issued notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and directed it to file a status report on the matter. The Court also asked the NIA and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to inform about Abubacker's diagnosis and treatment requirement. The Court added that it would be totally unacceptable if Abubacker has to wait till 2024 for a scan at AIIMS..Abubacker, who hails from a village in Kerala's Kozhikode, was active in organisations like the Ideal Students League, Jama’at-e-Islami and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).He was arrested by the NIA on September 22 and charged under provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). He has been in judicial custody since October 6.He sought bail on medical grounds, arguing that he is a retired school teacher and a senior citizen suffering from numerous serious and rare medical ailments, one of which is a rare form of cancer called “Gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma”.He is also suffering from Parkisnon's Disease, along with hypertension, diabetes, loss of vision, nervous system etc for which he has been undergoing treatment since 2019 at specialized cancer hospitals, the plea said."The Petitioner stands deprived of his Fundamental Right to Life, Personal Liberty and Right to Health guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, as per procedure established by law and is thus, compelled to approach this Hon'ble Court under Section 439 of Cr.P.C., seeking regular bail, on medical grounds," the petition stated.Advocate Adit S Pujari appeared for Abubacker.The NIA was represented by Special Public Prosecutor Akshai Malik and advocate Khawar Salim..Delhi High Court refuses to entertain bail plea of ex-PFI chief E Abubacker