ED nabs SDPI Chief in money laundering case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested MK Faizy, SDPI’s national president, in a money laundering probe at Delhi airport on Monday night. Officials confirmed the arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Earlier, on February 28, ED raided Faizy’s residence in Kerala.
The SDPI serves as the political wing of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The Ministry of Home Affairs outlawed PFI and its eight affiliate organizations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on September 28, 2022. The government accused PFI of radicalization and terror funding. ED and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched nationwide crackdowns, leading to arrests and the seizure of incriminating documents. Since 2021, ED has arrested 26 PFI members and filed nine charge sheets.
In 2022, authorities raided SDPI offices across multiple cities, keeping the party under close scrutiny. The NIA previously arrested SDPI member Ghouse Nayazi for involvement in the 2016 murder of RSS leader R Rudresh. Investigators also linked SDPI members to the 2010 palm-chopping attack on professor T.J. Joseph.
In October 2024, ED revealed that PFI had around 13,000 active members in Singapore and Gulf nations, including Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. These operatives allegedly collected funds and transferred them to India via illegal hawala networks. ED claimed PFI staged “violent” protests through mock funerals, air raids, and civil disobedience to fuel an Islamic movement in India.
According to ED, PFI prepared for “civil war” by creating unrest through guerrilla tactics, alternative communication systems, and psychological pressure on officials. The agency alleged PFI encouraged subversive activities, including withholding information from authorities and undermining national unity.
As part of its investigation, ED attached PFI assets worth over ₹56 crore, citing evidence of financial misconduct. The agency continues its probe into SDPI and its leaders for their alleged involvement in unlawful activities.
