PFI terror funding: NIA busts multi-State hawala network, arrests 5 operatives

While tracing and tracking funds moved by the Popular Front of India (PFI) across the country, particularly in Kerala, Karnataka, and Bihar, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigations into the Phulwari Sharif PFI case in Bihar led to the discovery of a large network of hawala operatives in South India and their arrest in Karnataka.

With the arrests of five PFI operatives from Kasargod, Kerala, and Dakshin Kannada, Karnataka, a PFI funding-by-hawala module operating out of Bihar and Karnataka with roots in the UAE has been busted.

PFI cadres in Phulwarisharif and Motihari had vowed to continue PFI activities in Bihar in a covert manner, and had recently arranged a firearm and ammunition to eliminate a youth from a specific community in Bihar’s East Champaran District. According to an NIA statement, three module operatives were apprehended on February 5, 2023.

According to the investigation agency, the five arrested on Tuesday were actively involved in PFI’s criminal conspiracy to move and channel illicit funds obtained from outside India for distribution among PFI leaders and cadres.

Previously in this case, seven accused persons were arrested when they gathered in Patna’s Phulwari Sharif area in July last year for training and to carry out acts of terror and violence.

Since Sunday, NIA teams have been conducting extensive searches in Kasargod (Kerala) and Dakshin Kannada (Karnataka). Searches were carried out at eight different locations, resulting in the seizure of numerous digital devices and incriminating documents containing details of transactions totaling several crore rupees.

Following up on the investigational leads since July 2022, the NIA team discovered that, despite the PFI’s ban imposed on September 27, the PFI and its leaders and cadres continued to propagate the ideology of violent extremism while also arranging arms and ammunition for criminals.

NIA investigators tracked down Md Sarfraz Nawaz and Md Mahammad Sinan, who have discovered making deposits in the bank accounts of the accused and suspects in the PFI case.

While investigating Iqbal and other associates who had collected illegally generated funds from Dubai and Abu Dhabi and handed them over to Muhammad Sinan, Sarfraz Nawaz, Abdul Rafeek M, and Abid KM in India, the NIA was able to unravel the international conspiracy and linkages to the funds.

According to NIA investigations, Mohammad Sarfaraz, Md Sinan, and Md Rafeek deposited this money in different bank accounts of the accused and suspects. These five suspects will be brought before the NIA Special Court in Patna soon.

According to the NIA, additional investigations are underway to track, trace, and suffocate the banned PFI’s international and domestic illicit funding channels.