The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached eight immovable properties — some used as terror camps — worth Rs 67.03 crore of banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The properties were held in the name of various trusts and that of its political front – the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).
The properties include pl'aces where multiple physical education training programmes were being imparted to carry out violent and terrorist activities in India to achieve the goal of forming an Islamic Nation of India.
Earlier, ED had attached the movable and immovable properties valued at RS 61.98 crore. The total attachments in this case, including the present attachment of Rs 67.03 crore, amount to Rs 129 crore.
The agency started a probe against PFI and others under PMLA, 2002, on the basis of an FIR registered by NIA, along with various FIRs registered by other law enforcement agencies against PFI and others. “Investigation revealed that the office bearers, members and cadres of PFI, were conspiring and raising/collecting funds from within India and abroad through banking channels, Hawala, donations etc. for committing and financing terrorist acts across India,” the agency said in a statement.
Further, investigation has revealed that SDPI is a political front of PFI and PFI used to control, fund and supervise the activities of SDPI.
SDPI was majorly dependent on PFI for its day-to-day functions, policy making, selecting candidates for election, public programs, cadre mobilization and other related activities.
Additionally, investigation has also revealed that the expenses made by PFI for and on behalf of SDPI were maintained in the dairies secretly and not reflected in the bank accounts of PFI.
Funds have been collected extensively by PFI and SDPI from foreign countries, mainly Gulf countries and also locally in the garb of relief and social activities.
“The proceeds were used for furtherance of criminal conspiracy to carry out violent and terrorist activities in India to achieve the goal of forming an Islamic Nation of India, jeopardising our secular fabric and disrupting the Unity and Integrity of the nation,” the agency said.
Investigation by ED has led to the quantification of Proceeds of Crime (POC) to the tune of Rs 131 Crore, so far.
So far, 28 leaders, members and cadres of PFI have been arrested by ED and multiple Prosecution Complaints in this regard have been filed before Hon’ble Courts.
The arrestees include the National President of SDPI, MK. Faizy, the Chairman, General Secretary, office bearers, and members of both the National and State Executive Councils (NEC & SEC) of the PFI, as well as Physical Education (PE) Coordinators and Trainers who were providing weapons training to the PFI members and cadres.
During the probe, ED found that PFI ideologues were ex-Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) members. SIMI was the students' wings of Jamaat-e-Islami. The history of the origin of PFI can be traced back to the ban of Jamaat-e-Islami after the demolition of Babri Masjid.
At that time, properties of Jamaat-e-Islami were attached and sealed under UA(P)A.
Taking inspiration from these developments, senior PFI members who were part of the National Development Front (NDF) at that time, deliberately formed various trusts all across Kerala and registered various properties owned and controlled by PFI under them.
Earlier, Searches by ED led to seizure of multiple records maintained by PFI which has:
“Seized records also revealed that PFI conducted multiple PE (Physical Education) training programmes and built sheds on various properties. Examples are Valluvanad House Pattambi and Malabar house (Haritam Foundation) which have been currently attached,” the agency said.
PFI was conducting extensive Physical Education (PE) classes on the properties registered under dummy owners’ names for imparting offensive and defensive manoeuvres using various arms through Primary and Secondary PE classes. The PE classes were aimed preparing cadres and members for fulfilling their Jihadist agenda and using them for committing various unlawful activities.
