A Special NIA Court at Delhi's Patiala House Courts on Saturday formally framed charges against the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and 20 of its office bearers, including founding chairman Erappungal Abubacker and chairman OMA Salam, in a terror conspiracy case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma of Patiala House Court framed charges after concluding that there was sufficient material to proceed against the accused.
The order follows the court's June 5 decision directing that charges be framed against the proscribed organisation and its senior office bearers.
The accused were arrested during the nationwide NIA crackdown against the PFI in September 2022, following intelligence inputs regarding the organisation's alleged unlawful activities.
With charges now formally framed, the trial will commence later this month as the prosecution begins leading evidence against the accused.
A Special NIA Court at Delhi's Patiala House Courts on Saturday formally framed charges against the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and 20 of its office bearers, including founding chairman Erappungal Abubacker and chairman OMA Salam, in a terror conspiracy case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Special NIA Judge Prashant Sharma of Patiala House Court framed charges after concluding that there was sufficient material to proceed against the accused. All the accused denied the allegations and claimed trial.
The court has now listed the matter for trial, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) set to begin leading evidence from July 29.
The charges include criminal conspiracy, waging war against the Government of India, raising funds for a terrorist organisation, conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, organising terror camps and recruiting persons for terrorist activities under the UAPA.
The order follows the court's June 5 decision directing that charges be framed against the proscribed organisation and its senior office bearers.
Court Found 'Grave Suspicion' of Larger Conspiracy
While directing the framing of charges earlier, the Special Court observed that the material collected during investigation disclosed a prima facie case against the accused.
The court had observed: "Considered as a whole, the material on record raises grave suspicion that the accused, acting through and on behalf of the Popular Front of India and its National Executive Council (NEC), agreed and acted in furtherance of a single conspiracy to overthrow the secular democratic Government of India and to establish an Islamic Caliphate under Sharia law in India by or before the year 2047 through an armed struggle against the State."
Background of the Case
The NIA registered the case on April 13, 2022, pursuant to directions issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, invoking provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The accused were arrested during the nationwide NIA crackdown against the PFI in September 2022, following intelligence inputs regarding the organisation's alleged unlawful activities. The Central Government subsequently declared the PFI an unlawful organisation.
After completing its investigation, the NIA filed the main chargesheet along with supplementary chargesheets against the organisation and its leaders.
According to the agency, the accused allegedly conspired to overthrow the elected government, radicalise youth, organise terror training camps, raise funds for terrorist activities and promote enmity between communities. The agency has further alleged that several senior RSS leaders were identified as potential targets.
During the proceedings, Special Public Prosecutor Rahul Tyagi, assisted by Jatin Khatri and Amit Rohilla, appeared for the NIA, while Senior Advocates S. Balan, A. Nowfal and Saipan Dastgir represented the accused.
With charges now formally framed, the trial will commence later this month as the prosecution begins leading evidence against the accused.
