Hameed was deported from Singapore to India and detained upon arrival in Madurai. He was presented to a Delhi court, which remanded him for ten days to the ED’s custody.

The reward for any information regarding Shahul Hameed was increased by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to Rs 3 lakh in May.

The ED filed a money laundering investigation against the top officials of the now-banned group last year.

The Centre designated PFI and its affiliates as a “unlawful association” in a broad assault on PFI.

“The Popular Front of India and its associates, affiliates, or fronts have been found to be involved in serious offences that are detrimental to the integrity, security, and sovereignty of the nation, such as terrorism and its financing, targeted brutal killings, disobeying the country’s constitutional order, causing public disturbances, etc. The Popular Front of India, along with its associates, affiliates, or fronts, has been declared a “unlawful association” under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Centre said in a release. As a result, the Ministry of Home Affairs felt it necessary to stop the organization’s evil deeds.

Since the prohibition last year, the ED and the NIA have conducted raids on a number of PFI leaders and employees.

This decision came after the country’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) detained scores of members of the Islamist organisation on Tuesday and earlier in the month. They were accused of violence and anti-national activities.

PFI’s fronts which are also on the banned list are, Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.

Between September 22 and September 27, NIA along with Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted nation wide crackdown. In the first round of raids, 106 people belonging to PFI were arrested. Meanwhile, in the second round of raids, 247 people belonging to PFI were arrested. 

Investigating agencies got shocking evidences, violent literature, weapons and cash. 

PFI was formed in 2006 by the adherents of Muslim Brotherhood ideology in India. Due to its radical and violent nature, the group was always under the radar. 

Government declared the group and all its affiliates as an “unlawful association”. The ban is for five years.

NIA and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at several places in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and other states as part of a significant campaign against the PFI.

More than ten states have seen the arrests. This effort is being closely monitored by the Home Ministry as well. According to sources, two PFI members were also detained in Lucknow.

Searches are being conducted at the locations of persons who are allegedly involved in funding terrorism, setting up training camps, and radicalizing people to join banned organizations as part of the “biggest ever investigation to date”.

These searches are being carried out at the homes and workplaces of those who organize training camps, support terrorism, and radicalize individuals to join banned organizations.

Shaheen Bagh and Ghazipur in Delhi were among the locations of the arrests.

Other nine PFI-related suspects were detained by Assam Police all around the state.

“Last night, Assam police and NIA together conducted operation in the Hatigaon region, Guwahati, and detained 9 men across the state affiliated with PFI”, a senior police official informed ANI.

The searches were conducted by more than 200 NIA officers and members of the raid team. Workers from PFI and SDPI who were protesting an NIA raid in Mangaluru were detained by the Karnataka Police.

Sources informed ANI that, the NIA and ED are conducting raids at the homes of PFI leaders from midnight, including the home of OMA Salam, PFI chairman, in Manjeri, Malappuram district, as well as at PFI offices. While the raids are taking place, PFI employees have protested in front of OMA Salam’s Malappuram home.

PFI’s Kerala state General Secretary said, “NIA and ED conducted raids in various offices of PFI in Kerala. Raids are happening across 50 locations and also at the leader’s house”.

Searches have been started by NIA officials in a number of places, including Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Cuddalore, Thirunelveli, and Tenkasi. These raids are being conducted at premises connected to PFI and SDPI.
The NIA is questioning Pyaz Ahmed, the PFI district head for Cuddalore, Yasser Arafat, and the Madurai district secretary.

On September 18, the NIA conducted a number of raids across various Andhra Pradesh districts, and PFI members were apprehended for questioning in relation to inciting violence and engaging in unlawful activities. A man was given a notice to appear at the NIA headquarters in Hyderabad after officials conducted a raid on a home in Telangana’s Nizamabad district. In the districts of Nizamabad, Kurnool, Guntur, and Nellore, up to 23 NIA teams conducted simultaneous searches.

PFI is a hardcore Muslim Brotherhood-influenced organization that draws its inspiration from Hamas and Palestine Jihad. The group is infamous in India for instigating violence, protesting and conspiring against the state.

General Secretary of AIMPLB Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rehmani issued a statement, which mentions, “The issue of women’s hijab got ignited like a spark from a town in Karnataka, and soon it spread to the rest of the country. Now the situation is very critical. Perhaps, on the other hand, extremist groups have made it a topic to incite hatred against Muslims, and young students are affected by it”.

“In such a situation, a special meeting of the Legal Committee of the Board and some members of the executive was held, in which it was decided that the issue should be resolved through legal procedures and negotiations instead of bringing it on the road”, it added.

It further stated that the board has decided that a legal battle will be fought in the High Court, either by those who have already become parties, to pursue the case together with them, or the Board will become a direct party.

Currently, the board is in constant touch with the lawyers who are presenting the views of the Muslims in the Karnataka High Court.

“If the issue is not solved in Karnataka High Court, Supreme Court will be approached”, the statement said.

During the course of events, board has strictly instructed its members and volunteers to refrain from participating and leading the protest rallies, and to stay cautious before making any statement in the media and TV debates without the permission of the board.

Moulana Rehmani expressed his concerns that, the issue may take the shape of Babri Mosque dispute which led to communal riots and civil unrest.

“I request you to refrain from any such act for the time being. Control your emotions and make Dua (prayers)”, he said. “Otherwise, there is a chance of loss compared to the benefit. There is a danger of confrontation between Hindu-Muslim students and teachers in educational institutions in every village and town”.

Meanwhile, the extremist Islamist organization Popular Front Of India (PFI) held a “unity” march in Rajasthan on Thursday. Its General Secretary Anis Ahmed threatened the Indian administration that PFI will take out protest rallies throughout India till 15th August 2022. However, majority of the Muslim groups and organizations have not come out to express support toward PFI’s radical intent.