HC Directs Banned PFI To Deposit Rs 5.2 Crore For Damaging Public Properties

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and its state general secretary Abdul Sattar to deposit Rs 5.2 crore for damages caused to public properties during its protests last week.

A day after multiple agency teams, led by NIA, conducted searches against PFI in 15 states and over 100 leaders and activists arrested, PFI members held protests – which turned violent — across Kerala on September 23.

The state estimated damages to public property, including Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, at Rs 5.20 crore and asked Sattar to deposit that amount with Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, within two weeks.

If the money is not deposited within the deadline, the court directed the state government to invoke provisions of Revenue Recovery Act and take immediate steps to proceed against assets of the PFI, along with personal assets of its office-bearers for the realisation of deposit amount.

Also Read: Bomb Manuals, ‘Mission 2047’ Document Found In Now Banned PFI Raids

On September 28, the Central government declared Islamic group PFI and its associates/affiliates/fronts as an unlawful association for five years. Later in the day, Sattar was arrested.

The Union Home Ministry said there had been several instances of international linkages of PFI with global terrorist groups such as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).