SDPI National President M K Faizy Arrested by ED in Money Laundering Case

New Delhi, March 4: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested M K Faizy, the national president of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Faizy was apprehended late Monday night at the Delhi International Airport, according to official sources.

The SDPI, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Delhi, has repeatedly been alleged by investigative agencies to be the political arm of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI). However, SDPI has consistently denied these allegations, insisting it operates as an independent political organization.

Faizy, a founding member of the SDPI, was elected as its national president in 2018. The SDPI describes him as an Islamic scholar, political analyst, and former Masjid Imam during the 1980s, highlighting his longstanding involvement in community and political affairs.

Link Between SDPI and Banned PFI Under Scrutiny​

Investigative agencies, including the ED, National Investigation Agency (NIA), and various state police forces, have been conducting coordinated operations against the PFI and its affiliates since 2022. These actions intensified prior to the Union government officially banning the PFI in September 2022, classifying it as an "unlawful association."

The ED had previously identified the SDPI as the "political front" for the banned organization. As part of its investigation in 2022, ED officials uncovered alleged financial transactions connecting Faizy to Abdul Razak BP, a Kerala-based PFI leader. Razak reportedly transferred Rs 2 lakh to Faizy as part of the fund-raising activities associated with PFI, the sources said.

Influence in Southern Indian States​

Official sources state that the SDPI holds significant influence in certain regions of southern India, particularly Kerala and Karnataka. Its reach reportedly extends to various pockets across other southern states as well.

With Faizy’s arrest, the ED continues its efforts to unravel and dismantle alleged financial networks tied to the banned PFI and its purported affiliates. The case remains under active investigation, and further developments are anticipated.