ED arrests SDPI National President MK Faizy in money laundering probe
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested MK Faizy, national president of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), in connection with a money laundering investigation. Officials confirmed that Faizy was taken into custody at Delhi airport on Monday night under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The arrest follows a raid conducted by ED at Faizy’s residence in Kerala on February 28. The SDPI is the political wing of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI), which was outlawed by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on September 28, 2022. The government has accused the PFI of fueling radicalization and involvement in terror financing.
Since 2021, the ED has arrested 26 PFI members, including senior office bearers, and filed nine charge sheets. During the 2022 crackdown, multiple SDPI offices were also raided, and the party's activities have remained under scrutiny by central agencies.
In October 2024, the ED alleged that PFI had around 13,000 active members in Singapore and Gulf countries, including Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. These members were reportedly involved in raising funds, which were then transferred to India through illegal hawala channels. The agency further claimed that PFI engaged in various activities aimed at creating unrest, including civil disobedience and violent protests.
As part of its investigation, the ED has attached PFI assets worth over ₹56 crore.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
