A day after at least eight persons were killed in a blast in Delhi, the Supreme Court on Tuesday denied bail to a man accused of offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in an unrelated matter, Bar and Bench reported.

Advocate Siddhartha Dave, representing the man, told the bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that it was “not the best morning to argue this case after the events of yesterday”, Live Law reported. This was an apparent reference to the blast in Delhi.

In response, Mehta said that it was the “best morning to send a message”.

On Monday, a car exploded near gate number one of the Red Fort metro station at about 6.52 pm, according to Delhi Police. While the cause of the blast is not yet clear, the police have filed a case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Explosives Act.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday verbally observed that it was an “admitted fact that inflammatory material was recovered” from the person seeking bail, Live Law reported.

Mehta said that the person accused in the matter had created a WhatsApp group in which a photo showed a flag allegedly identical to that of the terror group Islamic State.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that only Islamic literature had been recovered from the person, who has been in jail for more than two years, Bar and Bench reported.

Dave also contended that no explosive material was recovered and that the person was 70% disabled.

The bench said that the allegations against the man were serious.

While the court denied bail, it said that the trial should conclude within two years. If that does not happen and the delay is not attributed to him, the person accused in the matter can reapply for bail.

In the Delhi blast matter, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that the incident was being investigated in detail, and that “all angles were being kept open”.

Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha said that the car, which had been moving slowly, had stopped at a red light when the explosion happened in the vehicle. Several other vehicles nearby were also damaged in the blast.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that those responsible for the blast will not be spared.

Also read: ‘It was like a ball of fire’: An eyewitness recalls Delhi explosion