The Supreme Court on Wednesday set aside a verdict of the Madras High Court that had granted bail to eight suspected members of the banned PFI, saying the organisation “had strong communal and anti-national agenda”.

A bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal passed the judgment while allowing the appeal filed by the NIA challenging their bail.

The suspects were arrested by the NIA on September 22, 2022, for allegedly planning terror activities.

Agreeing with NIA counsel Rajat Nair, the apex court, while referring to the chargesheet, said: “Though the PFI was projecting itself as an organisation fighting for the rights of minorities, Dalits and marginalised communities, it was pursuing a covert agenda to radicalise particular section of the society and to work towards undermining the concept of democracy and integrity of India. The investigation disclosed that the activities and undeclared objectives of PFI had strong communal and anti-national agenda to establish an Islamic rule in India by radicalization of Muslims and communalisation of issues.”

Justice Trivedi said the PFI was motivated towards terrorist activities by providing training to attack, assault, maim and murder with bare hands.