The Supreme Court on Tuesday denied medical bail to Popular Front of India (PFI) leader A.S. Ismail, who has been in custody under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) since 2022. The court ruled that Ismail’s condition did not warrant immediate medical intervention, despite a history of health complications.
Ismail, who suffered a stroke in October 2024 and has since undergone treatment at various hospitals, continues to require physiotherapy and monitoring for high blood pressure, according to a report by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). His counsel argued during the hearing that the prison authorities were no longer facilitating his physiotherapy sessions.
A bench comprising Justices K.V. Viswanathan and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh noted that while Ismail’s medical needs are ongoing, they do not constitute an emergency. However, the court issued a notice to examine whether the physiotherapy facilities available at Tihar Jail No. 3 could be extended to Ismail, who is currently lodged in Tihar Jail No. 1.
“We are not inclined to grant bail on medical grounds at this stage, considering the AIIMS report dated March 15, 2025,” the bench stated. “However, we have directed the respondents to assess the feasibility of extending physiotherapy services from Tihar Jail-3 to the petitioner.”
Ismail was among several PFI leaders arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2022. The agency has accused him of participating in a conspiracy to radicalise Muslim youth, promote anti-government sentiment, and disrupt national integrity in pursuit of establishing Islamic rule in India.
Following the arrests, the central government imposed a sweeping ban on the PFI and affiliated bodies including the Campus Front of India, Rehab India Foundation, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations, National Women’s Front, Junior Front, and Empower India Foundation.
The crackdown was widely condemned by civil liberties groups and Muslim organisations, who described it as arbitrary and undemocratic, raising concerns about the shrinking space for dissent and minority rights in the country.
