The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has revoked the attachment of six properties and a bank account allegedly linked to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), marking another significant development in the ongoing proceedings against the outfit.
The recent orders, delivered in six separate judgments this month, directed the release of assets belonging to Trivandrum Education Trust, Haritham Foundation Poovanchira, Periyar Valley Charitable Trust Aluva, Vallavunad Trust Palakkad, Chandragiri Charitable Trust Kasaragod, and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in New Delhi.
The properties were initially attached by a designated authority of the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2023, after the NIA registered cases against PFI in connection with alleged anti-national activities and the 2022 murder of RSS leader Sreenivasan in Palakkad. The NIA had claimed that PFI cadres conducted arms training at the Periyar Valley campus and Vallavunad House, while several other trust properties were used to shelter its members.
However, the court found that the direct involvement of trustees and individuals in PFI’s alleged activities could not be established, thereby revoking the attachments.
Trustees and individual property owners had approached the NIA court, arguing that they had no connection with PFI’s activities and that the attachments were unjust. Advocate P.C. Noushad, appearing for the applicants, said the court had now revoked 17 property attachments, including 10 others released in June this year across districts such as Malappuram, Alappuzha, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Thrissur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Palakkad, and Ernakulam.
One of the contested cases involved the bank account of SDPI in New Delhi. The NIA alleged that funds from the account had been transferred to an accused in the PFI case. The defense clarified that the recipient was a driver employed by SDPI, and the money reflected his monthly salary. Accepting this explanation, the court revoked the attachment.
Despite the revocation orders, the NIA has maintained that properties linked to the banned outfit were used for arms training and cadre activities. The agency has so far filed charge sheets against 63 individuals in cases connected with PFI.
With the latest decisions, a total of 17 properties and one bank account have been released from attachment in connection with the case. The applicants have approached the relevant authorities to formally secure the release of these assets.
