The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered translation of audio tapes submitted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as evidence against Tamil Nadu-based Advocate M. Mohammed Abbas, accused of having links with the banned organisation Popular Front of India (PFI).
The Bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice Pankaj Mithal passed the orders on a petition filed by the national agency against the August 1 Madras High Court verdict, which granted bail to Abbas.
Appearing for NIA, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju submitted a pen drive with evidence before the top court of the country.
While observing that there was some controversy regarding the audio tapes, the Apex Court directed the Registry to immediately submit the same to the Registrar General of the Madras High Court for translation and listed the matter for further hearing on September 27.
Representing the Madurai-based lawyer, Senior Advocate R. Basant protested against continued incarceration of Abbas.
The Apex Court then agreed to respond to it on the next date after the evidence was duly translated.
On August 1, the High Court of Madras had granted bail to Abbas on the grounds that no specific accusation had been levelled by NIA against the lawyer.
The Bench of Justice M. Sundar and Justice R. Sakthivel took in view the observations made by the trial court that the question of Abbas’ absconding may not arise since he was an Advocate.
It further stated that PFI has not been listed as a ‘terrorist organisation’ in the First Schedule of UAPA, rather it has been declared as an ‘unlawful association’ vide a Government of India notification.
The High Court ruled that there were effectively no Chapter IV and Chapter VI accusations with specificity qua petitioner.
(Case Title: Union of India vs M Mohamed Abbas)