In a continued drive against the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and its political outfit, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested a key functionary of SDPI, Wahidur Rahman Jainullabudeen, from Coimbatore during a PMLA investigation spanning four states.
The ED’s probe has revealed that SDPI operatives were depositing unaccounted cash into their accounts and presenting it as donations. Wahidur was taken to Delhi for further interrogation. He is a physical trainer with the PFI and was closely associated with SDPI activities. He had earlier been arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police for throwing a petrol bomb while protesting against the ban on PFI in Mettupalayam.
The ED, in a post on X, said: “ED, Headquarters Office has arrested Wahidur Rahman Jainullabudeen, resident of Mettupalayam, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on 20.03.25 under the provisions of PMLA, 2002. He has been produced today before the Hon’ble Special Court, Patiala House Court, which has remanded him to ED custody.”
ED, Hqrs. Office has arrested Wahidur Rahman Jainullabudeen r/o Mettupalyam, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on 20.03.25 under the provisions of PMLA, 2002. He has been produced today before the Hon’ble Special Court, Patiala House Court which has remanded him to ED custody.
— ED (@dir_ed) March 21, 2025
It stated that Jainullabudeen was found to be involved in depositing cash into the bank accounts of various individuals, which was subsequently transferred to SDPI bank accounts and shown as donations.
Earlier, on March 21, an ED team conducted raids at multiple locations in Coimbatore, including the premises of SDPI secretary Razik and Jainullabudeen in Mettupalayam. Similar searches were carried out on two more SDPI members in Vellore and Arcot in Tamil Nadu, in addition to Coimbatore and Mettupalayam, as well as in Kerala, West Bengal, and Rajasthan.
In connection with this case, the ED had previously arrested 26 office-bearers and members of the PFI, including its chairman, general secretary, and other key figures.
