UAPA Accused In Jail For 9 Years Without Framing Of Charges, Delhi High Court Seeks NIA’s Response On Bail Plea

The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a bail plea moved by an accused, who has been in jail for more than nine years in a case registered under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, on the ground of delay in trial.

Manzer Imam, an alleged Indian Mujahideen operative, was arrested in August 2013 in a case registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleging that he, along with others, conspired to commit terrorist acts and made preparations for targeting prominent places in the country.

The charges are yet to be framed in the case.

A division bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued notice on Imam’s plea while listing the matter for hearing in March. Apart from the ground of delay, the plea also seeks bail on merits of the case.

Imam was denied bail by a special court on November 28. A single judge in October last year asked the special court to hear and dispose of his bail application within a period of 75 days.

The appeal on behalf of Imam has been filed through Advocate Kartik Purushottama Murukutla.

The FIR in which Imam is an accused invokes Section 17, 18, 18B and 20 of UAPA and Section 121A and 123 of Indian Penal Code.

In 2021, Imam had moved another plea before the High Court seeking day-to-day hearing in his case before the trial court, submitting that the accused persons in NIA cases are languishing for years in jail due to delay in trial.

Title: MANZER IMAM v. NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY