ED raids SDPI offices across India, including Malappuram
The ED conducted searches at multiple locations across the country, including Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh), Pakur (Jharkhand), Thane (Maharashtra), Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Jaipur,
The ED conducted searches at multiple locations across the country, including Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh), Pakur (Jharkhand), Thane (Maharashtra), Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Jaipur,
The ED conducted searches at multiple locations across the country, including Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh), Pakur (Jharkhand), Thane (Maharashtra), Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Jaipur,
Malappuram: A team of Directorate of Enforcement (ED) officials from Chennai conducted a raid at the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) district committee office in Malappuram on Thursday. The operation is part of the federal agency's nationwide crackdown on SDPI offices.
The raids come just days after the ED arrested SDPI national president M K Faizy in connection with a money laundering case.
On Thursday, the ED conducted searches at multiple locations across the country, including Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, Nandyal (Andhra Pradesh), Pakur (Jharkhand), Thane (Maharashtra), Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Jaipur, according to official sources.
The agency has alleged that SDPI is linked to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and that the latter continued its activities through the political outfit. The Union government banned the PFI in September 2022 for its alleged involvement in unlawful and terrorist activities.
Founded in 2009, SDPI is headquartered in Delhi and is registered as a political party with the Election Commission of India. However, authorities claim it functions as the political front of the now-banned PFI.
Meanwhile, SDPI Malappuram District President Anwar Pazhanji has condemned the ED raid on the party’s office in Malappuram, calling it retaliation for organising Waqf conferences across the country. Speaking at a protest by SDPI activists in Malappuram, he criticised the raid as unjustified and politically motivated.
“The ED conducted the raid without prior notice and found nothing despite searching for hours. It began at 10:30 am and continued until 2:30 pm. Now, our national president, MK Faizy, has been arrested in connection with a case that was previously investigated but yielded no evidence,” Anwar stated.
He further alleged that the arrest was part of the central government's broader attempt to suppress dissent. “This is yet another example of the fascist regime’s crackdown on opposition voices. It is undemocratic and condemnable. Our protests will intensify, and we will take to the streets to resist and defeat such government actions,” he asserted.