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The Allahabad High Court at Lucknow Bench last week rejected the second bail application moved by one Farhad Ahmad Khan, allegedly a member of terrorist group Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami.

The bench of Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Saroj Yadav noted that Farhad's first bail application was rejected on merits as well as taking into account the gravity of offence as a huge quantity of RDX, Detonator and AK - 47 were recovered from his possession.

Farhad along with other co-accused persons was arrested in the year 2006. Farhad's counsel had pleaded for his bail contending that Farhad is in jail for the last 14 years as the criminal appeal moved by him against his conviction is still pending before the high court. 

However, the Additional Government Advocate (AGA) had opposed Farhad's bail plea arguing that this was a case of terrorist activities. He had submitted that at the time of Farhad's arrest, explosive material and one hand grenade were recovered from his possession. He had also apprised the court that explosive material and one hand grenade were recovered from his possession.

Stating that there was ample evidence against Farhad showing that he is a member of the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, the AGA had further averred that the accused persons involved in terrorist activities were of Harkatul-Jehad-al-Islami terrorist group and were preparing its network in India.

Further highlighting that in the year 2015, Farhad's first bail application was rejected on merits, he had contended that looking to the gravity of offence, Farhad was not entitled to bail.

Taking note of all the facts and circumstances, Court held that there was no good reason to release Farhad on bail. However, Court expedited the hearing of the criminal appeal filed by Farhad against his conviction. 

Notably, in the year 2007, though the serial bomb blasts that had rocked the court premises of Varanasi, Lucknow and Faizabad were allegedly executed at the behest of the Islamic terrorist group Indian Mujahidin, the Investigating agencies suspected the hand of Bangladesh based terrorist outfit Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami(HuJI) in the incidents.

Case Title: Farhan Ahmad Khan v. State of U.P.