Bombay High Court grants bail to PFI accused, cites lack of evidence
The Bombay High Court granted bail to a PFI member accused under the UAPA, citing a lack of concrete evidence and the slow pace of the trial. The court noted that witness statements were insufficient and that the accused had not acted upon potentially incriminating material found on his phone.
Why it matters
This ruling highlights judicial scrutiny regarding the application of anti-terror laws and the importance of due process in cases involving long-term judicial custody.
The Bombay High Court has granted bail to Mohammed Iqbal Ibrahim Khan, an accused in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The court ruled that witness statements against him did not establish the charges and that the trial would not conclude soon.
A Bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale passed the order last week. The court observed that there was hardly any material submitted by the prosecution to point to Khan’s involvement in the alleged offences.
The Bench termed the witness statements recorded by the police as “innocuous”. The court noted that these statements only indicated Khan’s membership in the Popular Front of India (PFI). However, they did not make out any of the offences charged against him.
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