Court Grants NIA Extension in PFI Activists Case

A special court granted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) a 90-day extension of judicial custody for two alleged Popular Front of India activists, charged with anti-national activities. The extension is to allow further investigation into digital evidence linked to the accused. A total of 71 individuals are implicated in the case.

A special court has permitted the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to extend the judicial custody of two alleged Popular Front of India (PFI) activists for an additional 90 days. This decision came following a petition from NIA Special Court Judge P K Mohandas, who considered the progress of the ongoing investigation.

The individuals, Moideenkutty of Valanchery and Muhammad Yazer Arafath of Neerikode, are accused in cases related to anti-national activities by the Popular Front of India, including the murder of RSS activist Sreenivasan. They were apprehended earlier this year after allegedly evading capture following the registration of the case in 2022.

The NIA argued that more time was needed to complete the investigation, as digital evidence linked to the accused was still being analyzed. The court emphasized the importance of thoroughly examining this evidence, comprising voluminous data, and directed the NIA to conclude their investigation within the next 90 days. Currently, 71 individuals are implicated in the case, many of whom have secured bail from higher courts.