New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to grant bail to Syed Mamoor Ali, also known as Mamoor Bhai, who is accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The bench remarked that it was the “best morning to send a message,” a day after the Red Fort blast in Delhi — though the two cases are unrelated.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave, appearing for Mamoor Ali, said, “Not the best morning to argue this case after the events of yesterday.” In response, Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed, “Best morning to send a message.”
According to Bar and Bench, the court noted that inflammatory material had been recovered from the accused. Dave countered that the material was only Islamic literature. Justice Mehta also pointed out that Mamoor Ali had created a WhatsApp group where a flag “almost identical” to that of ISIS was shared.
Dave further argued that his client has been in jail for over two years, no explosives were recovered, and he is 70% disabled. Despite these submissions, the court denied bail, citing the gravity of the charges.
The bench, however, directed that the trial be completed within two years. If the trial is delayed beyond that period for reasons not attributable to the accused, he may reapply for bail.
The court’s remarks drew sharp criticism online. MP Saket Gokhale wrote on X, “Your personal liberty will now be decided based on unrelated morning news. The Constitution is now just a reference for weekend lectures.”
Lawyer Ashish Goel also questioned the observation, writing, “The Supreme Court wants to ‘send a message’ by denying bail to a Muslim accused a day after a tragic blast? Message to whom? Earlier today, the CJI spoke of commitment to the rule of law — this doesn’t sound like it. This reflects a biased judicial mind.”
