Bombay High Court grants bail to PFI accused, citing lack of evidence

The Supreme Court concluded that Khan deserves to be granted bail as the trial is unlikely to end soon. File. | Photo credit: The Hindu

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 the witness statements did not establish charges against him and that the trial would not be over soon.

A bench of Justices Sarang Kotwal and Ranjitsinha Raja Bhonsale passed the order last week. The court noted that the prosecution had produced almost no material to point to Khan’s involvement in the alleged offences.

The bench termed the witness statements recorded by the police as “harmless”. The court noted that these statements only hinted at Khan’s membership of the Popular Front of India (PFI). However, they did not reveal any of the crimes he was charged with.

The prosecution opposed the bail application. She alleged that Khan was an active member of the PFI. According to the indictment, Khan and the other accused met in Mumbai between February and June 2022. They allegedly conspired to revolt against the Indian government.

The prosecution also relied on videos found on Khan’s mobile phone. One of the videos showed how petrol bombs are made. The court dealt with this point in its resolution. It noted that the video was on Khan’s phone. But the court pointed out that Khan did not forward the clip to anyone else. He also did not encourage anyone to use this technique.

The Maharashtra State Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested Khan in September 2022. He is currently in custody. He was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the UAPA.

The High Court also recorded the proceedings. The indictment in the case was filed in March this year. The court said no witness had been heard so far.

The prosecution intends to examine at least 90 witnesses. “It is therefore quite clear that the trial in the future is unlikely to end in a reasonable time,” the court said in its ruling. This factor also weighed in Khan’s favor for the grant of bail.

The court concluded that Khan deserves to be released on bail as the trial is unlikely to end soon.

Published – 28 Aug 2026 23:24 IST