The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached eight more properties worth ₹ 67.03 crore allegedly actually owned and controlled by the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The agency has so far arrested 28 people in the case.
The attached assets are linked to Green Valley Foundation, Alappuzha Social Cultural & Education Trust, Pandalam Educational and Cultural Trust (Pathanamthitta), Islamic Center Trust (Wayanad), Haritham Foundation (Malappuram), Periyar Valley Charitable Trust (Aluva), Vallavunad Trust (Palakkad) and PFI’s “political front” country in India Thiruvanhap — Social Democracy (SD) — SD Kerala, the official said.
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The ED had earlier attached assets worth ₹61.98 crore through nine orders that were upheld by the adjudicating authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), now valuing the total attachments at ₹129 crore. These include 61 properties, 24 PFI bank accounts, 19 SDPI, 15 Multiflor Builders, seven Rehab India Foundation and three key accused KA Rauf Sherif.
The PMLA probe is based on cases registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other agencies. Allegedly, PFI office-bearers, members and cadre conspired and raised funds as part of a “conspiracy to carry out violent and terrorist activities in India to establish an Indian Islamic State”, the agency alleged.
The ED accused the SDPI of being a political front of the banned PFI and said it used the body to control, fund and supervise the day-to-day activities of the SDPI. Funds were collected through thousands of members in foreign countries, especially West Asian countries, and sent to India through “hawala” channels. Money was also collected locally in the guise of aid and social activities.
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Between May 2009 and May 2022, more than ₹62 crore was deposited in 29 PFI accounts, with ₹32.07 crore in cash. Similarly, SDPI’s bank accounts reportedly showed income of ₹32 crore, of which ₹22 crore was cash deposits. Funds were routed through conduit accounts, many monetary donations were counterfeit, and several listed donors did not exist or were financially unable to make the alleged contributions. “Money was extorted from several persons but was falsely projected as voluntary donations,” it claimed.
The ED has so far pegged the proceeds of the alleged crime at ₹131 crore. “So far 28 PFI leaders, members and cadres… among those arrested are SDPI national president MK Faizy, chairman, general secretary, officials and members of PFI national and state executive councils, as well as ‘physical education’ coordinators and trainers who provided arms training to PFI members and cadres,” he added.
“Physical education” training programs were allegedly run at various properties such as Valluvanad House Pattambi and Malabar House (Haritham Foundation) which have now been attached to the ED.
The agency alleged that the PFI ideologues were former members of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which was the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. After it was first banned in 2001 and law enforcement agencies swung into action, senior PFI members who were then part of the National Development Front “deliberately created various trusts across Kerala and registered various properties owned and controlled by PFI under them”.
The Union Home Ministry banned PFI on 28 September 2022 under the UAPA for alleged involvement in terrorism, financing of terrorism, targeted killing and activities threatening the integrity and sovereignty of the country.
Published – 8 Nov 2025 20:27 IST
