On Monday, OMA Salam, the former chairman of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI), petitioned the Delhi High Court for a 15-day custody parole to attend ceremonies marking the first death anniversary of his daughter, who passed away last year.

The bench, led by Justice Ravinder Dudeja, accepted the state's request for additional time to file a written response. As a result, the court scheduled further proceedings for Friday, April 25, 2025.

Salam's counsel, Advocate Abdul Shukoor Mundambra, informed the court that his client sought parole to participate in rituals that had commenced on April 18 and were planned to continue until May 2. The state, however, raised concerns, questioning the timing of the application since the daughter had passed away a year ago and asserting that the documents related to the plea required further review.

Background:

The government had banned the PFI and several affiliated organizations on September 28, 2022, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged links to global terrorist groups, including ISIS.

Salam had previously sought to prevent the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from submitting a final report under Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, arguing that the NIA should investigate only offenses listed under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, and that permission from the Central Government was necessary for such investigations. He also contended that the Delhi Police should have been the ones to register the offense initially.

Justice Saurabh Banerjee had agreed to the joint request from both parties to schedule the matter for a hearing on October 31. In February, Justice Jasmeet Singh had issued a notice to the NIA, acknowledging that the Delhi Police should have been responsible for registering the offense.

In August 2024, the Delhi High Court denied interim bail to Salam, finding no sufficient grounds to grant it.

Case Title: OMA SALAM VS NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY (CRL.M.C.-2614/2025)