Lawyer arrested by anti-terrorism squad for alleged links with banned PFI gets bail

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The Bombay High Court on Mar 28 granted bail to advocate Shaikh Sadique Isaq Qureshi, who was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad on allegations of being a member of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). 

The court found no material to suggest that he was aware of or acted towards fulfilling the objectives of a document seized during the investigation.

Qureshi was charged under Sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 121-A (waging war against the country) and 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code, along with Section 13(1)(b) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. 

The prosecution alleged that he and others organised events in Mumbai with the aim of bringing the majority population under control, establishing rule based on their religion and replacing the Constitution with personal law. 

The authorities also claimed that he pointed out gaps in legal provisions and recruited vulnerable youth for PFI, which was banned in 2022. Contributions were allegedly collected from community members for this purpose.

Advocates Mihir Desai and Hasnain Qazi, representing Qureshi, argued that he was arrested on Sept 22, 2022, and charges had not yet been framed. 

With more than 255 witnesses cited in the charge sheet, they contended that the trial was unlikely to conclude within a reasonable timeframe. 

They also noted that PFI was banned on 27 Sept, 2022, five days after Qureshi’s arrest, making it impossible for him to have committed an offence under UAPA related to its activities post-ban.