HC seeks NIA response on PFI leader’s plea for 15-day custody parole
The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the response of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a plea by proscribed outfit PFI leader OMA Salam seeking 15-day custody parole to travel to his hometown in Kerala.
“The NIA lawyer has asked for more time to file a written response,” Justice Ravinder Dudeja of the Delhi High Court said, setting the next date of hearing on April 25.
Salam, who was arrested in a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) related to the banned group, had asked for permission to travel to his hometown in Kerala to attend to customary duties following his daughter’s death.
The NIA lawyer explained that Salam’s daughter died an year ago and that they would provide a detailed reply. Salam challenged the trial court’s recent decision, which granted him just one day and six hours of custody parole.
Notably, custody parole allows a prisoner to be escorted by armed police to a specific location.
Salam’s lawyer said his daughter, an MBBS student, died in an accident and he needed to attend certain ceremonies, including prayers at her grave. The ceremonies were due to take place from April 18 to May 2 and Salam was willing to pay for the costs of his custody parole.
“This is not about asking for bail. One day and six hours is not enough to attend the ceremonies,” said the lawyer.
Salam, who heads the banned outfit PFI, was arrested by the NIA during a large operation against the banned group in 2022. The NIA claims that the PFI, its leaders and members were involved in raising funds for terrorist activities and running camps to train recruits for such actions.
As part of a coordinated operation, many PFI activists were arrested across 11 states, including Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Delhi and Rajasthan. The NIA led the multi-agency operation.
The government banned the PFI and its affiliated groups on September 28, 2022, under the UAPA, accusing the group of links with global terror organisations like ISIS.
Delhi