New Delhi, 5th January 2025
In a significant breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday arrested a key accused in the Phulwarisharif PFI case of Patna, Bihar. The accused, Mohammad Sajjad Alam, was taken into custody upon his arrival at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport from Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
An NIA team apprehended Alam, a trained cadre of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), as soon as he landed. He had an arrest warrant issued against him by the NIA Special Court, Patna, along with a Look Out Circular to prevent his escape from law enforcement.
Illegal Fund Transfers from Dubai to Bihar
According to NIA investigations, Alam was deeply involved in channelizing illegal funds from Dubai to PFI cadres in Bihar. The funds were reportedly moved through a UAE, Karnataka, and Kerala-based syndicate and were used to finance the banned outfit’s criminal and unlawful activities.
The case, RC-31/2022/NIA/DLI, was initially registered in July 2022 by Phulwarisharif police and later transferred to the NIA for further probe. Investigations revealed that PFI cadres were engaged in unlawful and anti-national activities, conspiring to spread religious enmity and create an atmosphere of terror.
PFI’s Vision of “Islamic Rule in India”
The arrested individuals were reportedly working to destabilize public peace and incite disaffection against the Indian state. They aimed to promote the radical ideology of PFI, which, as per its internal document “India 2047 Towards Rule of Islam in India”, envisions the establishment of Islamic rule in the country.
The NIA had already arrested and chargesheeted 17 accused in this case before Alam’s arrest. His capture marks a major success in dismantling the PFI network that was actively involved in subversive activities across India.
Further Investigations Underway
With Alam now in custody, NIA is expected to intensify its probe into the financial and operational networks of PFI both within and outside India. Further arrests and legal actions may follow as NIA continues to crack down on terror-linked funding and extremist activities.
