CAV JUDGMENT

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T)

The appellant/accused No.14 has filed this appeal under Section 21(4) of The National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 (for short, ‘NIA Act’) read with Section 25 of The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (for short, ‘UAP Act’) challenging dismissal of his bail application dated 2.5.2025 in Special Case No.744 of 2023 on the file of XLIX Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge (Special Court for trial of NIA Cases), CCH-50, Bengaluru.

2. The appellant and nineteen other accused are being prosecuted in Special Case No.744 of 2023 for the charges for the offences punishable under Sections 153A and 120B of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, 'IPC') and under Sections 13, 17, 18, 18A, 18B and 22B of UAP Act on the basis of the charge-sheet filed in Crime No.328 of 2022 by Kadugondanahalli Police.

3. The allegations against the accused are as follows:

(i) Accused Nos.1 to 19 being the office bearers, members and cadres of the Popular Front of India/accused No.20 (for short, ‘PFI’) had extreme religious views. They were enraged by laws like Citizens Amendment Act, 2019 (for short, ‘CAA’), National Register of Citizens Laws (N