ED arrests key Popular Front functionary Wahidur Rahman Jainullabudeen in Tamil Nadu in money laundering case

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested Wahidur Rahman Jainullabudeen, a resident of Tamil Nadu, who was a physical trainer and a top functionary of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and was also involved in financing the PFI-linked Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).

Jainullabudeen, who is from Coimbatore, was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and produced before the Special Court at Patiala House, which has remanded him to ED custody.

The ED’s investigation into PFI and its associated entities was initiated based on multiple FIRs, including two filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2013 and 2022.

According to the probe agency, they have uncovered a systematic conspiracy by PFI members and office bearers to raise and channel funds — both domestically and internationally — through hawala, banking networks, and donations to carry out and finance terrorist activities across India.

In a recent development in the probe against PFI and SDPI, searches were conducted on March 20 at multiple locations linked to the outfits across Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Kerala.

ARMS TRAINING UNDER THE GUISE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The ED’s probe revealed that PFI’s so-called Physical Education (PE) classes were a front for arms training. The training included offensive and defensive combat skills involving blows, punches, kicks, and weapon handling, including knives and sticks.

This aligns with the 2013 Narath Arms Camp case in Kannur, Kerala, where PFI cadres were trained in explosives and weapons to promote communal violence and terrorism.

ROLE IN MONEY LAUNDERING, VIOLENT PROTESTS

Wahidur Rahman Jainullabudeen, who was a physical trainer for PFI, played a crucial role in financing SDPI’s operations, according to the central agency. Analysis of bank transactions revealed that funds labelled as “donations” to SDPI were actually laundered money.

He was personally involved in depositing large sums of cash into multiple bank accounts, which were later transferred to SDPI in an attempt to project them as legitimate donations.

Rahman was previously arrested in 2022 by Tamil Nadu Police for throwing petrol bombs during violent protests against the ban on PFI in Mettupalayam in Coimbatore.

MASSIVE CRACKDOWN ON PFI & SDPI

As part of this ongoing case, the ED has already attached assets worth Rs 61.72 crore and filed nine prosecution complaints before special PMLA courts. Twenty-six key PFI functionaries, including its Chairman, General Secretary, and State Executive Council members, have been arrested so far. The President of SDPI is also under arrest.

With Wahidur Rahman’s arrest and fresh leads in terror financing, the ED is expected to intensify its crackdown on the illicit financial networks of PFI and SDPI in the coming days.