Chennai, March 20 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at three locations in Tamil Nadu linked to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) as part of a nationwide crackdown.
The raids took place on Thursday at Mettupalayam, Arcot, and Vellore.
According to the ED, similar searches were carried out in multiple states, including Rajasthan’s Bhilwara and Kota, West Bengal’s Kolkata, and Kerala’s Kottayam and Palakkad.
SDPI is widely regarded as the political arm of the banned Islamist organisation, the Popular Front of India (PFI).
However, SDPI maintains that it operates independently and has no links to PFI.
The latest crackdown follows the recent arrest of SDPI’s national president, M.K. Faizy, on March 3.
He was taken into custody in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to PFI.
It may be recalled that two days after Faizy’s arrest, the ED launched multiple raids across the country, including in Chennai, where searches were conducted at two locations, one of which was the SDPI state office.
The ED has accused SDPI of functioning as a political front for PFI, claiming that as national president, Faizy exercised control over the party’s activities, which included receiving and utilizing illicit funds.
According to the ED, SDPI has received Rs 4.07 crore in illicit funds, allegedly sourced from PFI as part of a larger criminal conspiracy.
The investigation is based on two cases registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), along with multiple FIRs filed by other law enforcement agencies.
Authorities allege that PFI leaders, members, and cadres raised funds both in India and abroad — particularly from Gulf countries — through legal banking channels and illegal hawala transactions.
These funds were allegedly used to finance terror-related activities across India.
The ED claims that SDPI shared members, cadres, and leaders with PFI, and that it relied on PFI for essential operations such as policymaking, selecting election candidates, and mobilizing cadres.
As part of the probe, investigators seized a document that reportedly details PFI’s objectives. According to this document, PFI aimed to advance an Islamic movement in India and endorsed the principles of Jihad in all forms. It also suggested that PFI had established SDPI and several other front organizations to achieve its goals.
In connection with the PFI case, the ED has so far attached assets worth ₹61.72 crore, filed nine charge sheets, arrested 26 office-bearers and members, including PFI’s chairman, general secretary, and members of its national and state executive councils.
Investigators discovered that PFI received over Rs 62 crore in 29 bank accounts between May 2009 and May 2022, with more than half of the amount deposited in cash.
The organisation allegedly maintained thousands of active members in Gulf countries, who helped raise funds through various means, including donations.
The ED continues to probe SDPI’s financial transactions and organizational links as part of its broader investigation into PFI and its affiliates.
–IANS
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