MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Friday granted bail to Iqbal Ahmed, arrested on August 7, 2016, from Parbhani and booked under the stringent anti-terror law (UAPA) for allegedly being a member of the banned Islamic State (IS).
“He is entitled to be released on bail on merits and on grounds of prolonged incarceration, which infringes his right to life and personal liberty,’’ said a bench of Justices S Shinde and NJ Jamadar after analyzing case documents. Under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which has difficult bail provisions, court has to have a prima facie view that no case is made out to grant bail.
The HC granted him bail on a PR bond of Rs 1 lakh with a surety of like amount and directed that he appear before the NIA twice a week for the first month and then once a week for the next two months, apart from attending court for trial proceeding, and is not to hamper evidence or contact any witnesses.
