The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out extensive search operations at 20 locations in the country, including Mumbai and Thane in Maharashtra, in connection with their probe into the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and their alleged involvement in unlawful activities. Among the various places where raids were conducted included the Vikhroli residence of prisoners’ rights activist Abdul Wahid Shaikh who was acquitted in the 7/11 Mumbai serial train blasts case after spending several years in prison. Shaikh refused to open the door till officers showed their identity cards and had the proper paperwork to carry out the raid at his residence. Shaikh had earlier alleged that despite his acquittal, the law enforcement agencies continued to harass him. Uploading a video from inside his residence, Shaikh said, “Some people claiming to be police personnel came to my residence at 5 am. Neither have they identified themselves nor have they given any notice. They broke one door and broke my camera. I have not opened the door for the past three hours. My wife and kids are unwell, and we are trapped in our house.” He added, “I have complained to the local police and the Mumbai police commissioner and informed the media as well.” Outside his house, there was heavy police presence. As per the NIA, they conducted raids at Fazalpur, Shaheen Bagh, Okhla, and Chandni Chowk in Delhi; Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh; Tonk and Gangapur in Rajasthan; and Lucknow, Siddharth Nagar, Sant Ravidas Nagar, Kanpur and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. Searches were also conducted in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. These operations are part of an ongoing investigation in cases linked with the PFI, and their involvement in unlawful and anti-national activities, an NIA statement said. The statement added that during the searches, they found a substantial cache of crucial evidence, including laptops, mobile phones, SIM cards, memory cards, pen-drives and hard disks, along with other “incriminating documents”. A significant amount of Indian currency, with a face value of Rs 8.5 lakh, was also seized in connection with the case, the note added. The case was initially registered in May 2022 at Phulwarisharif police station in Bihar. Following its investigation, the NIA re-registered this case. The core allegation of this case centres around the gathering of individuals with suspicious intent in the Phulwarisharif area of Patna. The investigation led to the apprehension of several suspects at the initial stages and three accused were taken into custody. Till date, the NIA has submitted three chargesheets against a total of 13 suspects in this case. Previously, the NIA conducted multiple searches in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala in order to collect evidence against the accused persons and suspects in the present case, the note read. During the ongoing investigation, NIA apprehended Anwar Rashid, a former member of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Anwar Rashid's arrest is linked to his involvement in a criminal conspiracy, alongside FIR-named suspects Athar Parvej, Manjar Parvej and others, all working towards advancing the agenda of the Popular Front of India (PFI). Following the ban on SIMI, its members, including Anwar Rashid, were associated with Wahadat-e-Islami, an organisation formed by former SIMI members, and continued to promote the ideology of Islamic rule in India. Investigations revealed that Anwar Rashid, in his association with a publication house, was involved in the supply of material for promoting the ideology of the PFI, specifically the establishment of Islamic Rule in India.
