ED unearths links between Shaheen Bagh and extremist Islamist group PFI: Report

Two days ahead of the hotly contested Delhi Assembly election, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has submitted a report establishing links between the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Shaheen Bagh protests. The report was submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs on February 6.

The extremist Islamic organisation was being probed by the investigating agency for allegedly funding the violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. It had come under the scanner over the timing of financial transactions, none of which could be explained by the PFI members who were questioned.

On December 12, the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) became the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), after being passed by Parliament. Interestingly, the transactions were made after the Cabinet had cleared CAB on December 4, India Today reported.

As per the ED report, Rs 120.5 crore was credited to 73 bank accounts that was maintained by PFI and its related entity -- Rehab India Foundation. Most of these transactions were reportedly done via cash deposits.

It also mentions how several withdrawals were carried out from PFI accounts, that too just before the protesters started taking to streets, News18 reported.
The ED had been grilling PFI’s Delhi head Mohammed Parvez Ahmed, who said he was in regular touch with Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh over phone calls and WhatsApp. He had been in talks with Congress leader Udit Raj (former BJP leader) and Bhim Army also – both being organisations that have opposed the new citizenship law.