MK Faizi, the National President of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) | File Photo
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at multiple locations linked to the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), including its headquarters in New Delhi and state offices across the country, in connection with a money laundering investigation. Followed the recent arrest of SDPI national president MK Faizy on Tuesday.
The ED’s operation spanned 12 locations, including Mumbra, Kausa in Thane district ,Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuram in Kerala, Bengaluru, Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh, Chennai, Pakur in Jharkhand, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Jaipur. ED Officials confirmed that searches were being conducted at SDPI’s national headquarters, along with other premises.
The financial probe agency carried out searches at 12 locations, including Mumbra, Kausa area, Thane district, Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuram in Kerala, Bengaluru, Nandyal in Andhra Pradesh, Chennai, Pakur in Jharkhand, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Jaipur. Officials confirmed that the searches were conducted at SDPI’s national headquarters and other premises.
The ED’s action comes after the agency previously alleged an “organic link” between the SDPI and the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The Union government had declared the PFI an unlawful association in September 2022, citing its involvement in terrorist activities. The ED has alleged that PFI was engaged in anti-national and terror-related activities in India.
According to sources, during the search operation at the SDPI office in Kausa, Thane District, the ED team inquired about the number of programs organized by the party, including marches and protests, as well as details of the funds generated for these events. Officials also sought information regarding SDPI’s day-to-day activities and financial transactions.
Sources further revealed that the ED is expected to share its investigation findings with the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking a ban on SDPI. Registered as a political party with the ECI, SDPI has long faced allegations of functioning as the political front for the banned PFI. The latest crackdown by the ED intensifies scrutiny on the organization’s financial dealings and its alleged connections with the banned outfit.
The ED investigation has uncovered overlapping membership of PFI and SDPI cadres, the involvement of PFI office bearers in SDPI’s funding, and the utilization of shared assets. The agency claims that these findings establish a deep-rooted nexus between the two organizations, suggesting that SDPI serves as a front for PFI’s activities, allowing it to continue anti-national and criminal operations under the guise of social welfare.
The ED shared its findings with the special PMLA court while seeking Faizy’s remand earlier this week, stating that an in-depth probe had revealed PFI’s deep-rooted control over SDPI, its political front. Documents and digital evidence seized during the searches indicate that PFI not only funds but also supervises SDPI’s activities, including election strategies, policy-making decisions, selection of candidates for election campaigns, public programs, and cadre mobilization.
The ED also stated that a search at Unity House, Kozhikode, yielded handwritten documents revealing evidence of PFI funding elections contested by SDPI. Additionally, documents showed that the national executive council of PFI had approved SDPI’s collection of funds from Gulf countries, while also covering legal expenses for SDPI members accused in criminal cases registered by police and central agencies.
As of late Thursday night, ED teams were still conducting searches at multiple locations, examining seized documents and digital evidence.
