- विज्ञापन -
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches at 12 locations associated with the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) across multiple states. The raids are taking place in Delhi (including the SDPI headquarters), Kerala (Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuram), Karnataka (Bengaluru), Andhra Pradesh (Nandyal), Maharashtra (Thane), Tamil Nadu (Chennai), Jharkhand (Pakur), West Bengal (Kolkata), Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow), and Rajasthan (Jaipur). These actions are part of an ongoing investigation into SDPI’s activities.
The SDPI, a political party established in 2009, has been under scrutiny for its alleged connections to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). Previous coordinated raids on SDPI and PFI offices in 2022 led to several arrests. The current raids come just days after the ED arrested SDPI President Moideen Kutty, also known as MK Faizy, at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED has claimed that SDPI depends on PFI for its operations, including policy making and election campaign activities. They also assert that SDPI is essentially a political front for PFI, with shared members, leaders, and resources. Faizy, who has been the National President of SDPI since 2018, was remanded to six days of ED custody on March 3.
The ED’s investigation into PFI and its affiliates started in 2013, based on reports from the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The ED has uncovered evidence showing that PFI members were involved in raising funds for terrorist activities in India, including through hawala channels and donations from foreign sources. Documents seized during previous raids revealed PFI’s control over SDPI, including funding for SDPI’s election campaigns and legal expenses for accused members.
The ED also found evidence that PFI funded SDPI’s election-related expenses to the tune of Rs 3.75 crore, using unaccounted funds from both India and abroad. The total proceeds of crime identified so far amount to Rs 4.07 crore. Faizy, who evaded multiple summons, faces charges for his involvement in the criminal conspiracy. The ED has already attached properties worth Rs 61.72 crore and filed nine prosecution complaints related to the case.
