Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government’s proposal to ban the popular Front of India (PFI), following its alleged involvement in recent violence during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, is likely to face trouble since the Uttar Pradesh Police has failed to produce ‘substantial evidence’ against its activists.
PFI president Wasim Ahmad, who was accused of masterminding violence, was granted bail and released on Tuesday.
“The government is merely trying to malign the organisation but without any concrete proof. As many as 19 of the 25 PFI members, arrested by the police, have been granted bail because the police had no evidence against us,” he told reporters.
On December 23, the Lucknow police had arrested three persons — PFI president Wasim Ahmad, treasurer Nadeem Ali and divisional president Ashfaq, charging them with possession of inflammatory literature, posters, CDs and banners.
Hearing on bail pleas of Nadeem Ali and Ashfaq is scheduled next week.
Besides, 18 PFI members arrested by the police, including a key figure, Mohammed Shadab, were also released on bail on Tuesday.
A police official said that they are yet to file a chargesheet in the case.
It may be recalled that the Yogi Adityanath government has sent a proposal seeking a ban on the PFI on the grounds that the organisation was involved in anti-national activities. The state government has said that the PFI is a reinvented organisation of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
