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The Delhi High Court will hear on Friday, a petition seeking copies of the FIRs registered the people arrested from across the country during raids by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) against the members of banned terror outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).
The Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad on Monday allowed urgent mentioning of the plea, after the Counsel mentioning the matter submitted that under several directions of the Supreme Court and High Courts, it was necessary to provide a copy of the FIR to the accused.
However, the authorities have said that this was a sensitive matter and the copy could not be provided, noted the Counsel, adding that the remand of the accused was being extended from time to time and a copy of the FIR was not being provided.
According to NIA, it had conducted coordinated searches in 93 locations of 15 states, along with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the State Police forces across the country last month, leading to seizure of incriminating documents, cash, sharp-edged weapons and a large number of digital devices.
It said searches were conducted in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, West Bengal, Bihar and Manipur.
The national agency said raids were conducted in the houses and offices of top PFI leaders and members in connection with five cases registered by NIA following continued inputs and evidence that PFI leaders and cadres were involved in funding of terrorism activities, organising training camps for providing armed training and radicalising people to join banned organisations.