A special NIA court in Chennai has sentenced four members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of Hindu Munnani leader C. Sasikumar. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on each convict. This ruling marks the first conviction of PFI operatives by the National Investigation Agency since the government declared the group an unlawful association in 2022.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court in Poonamallee, Chennai, concluded its trial regarding the 2016 murder of Hindu Munnani leader C. Sasikumar in Coimbatore. The court found four individuals, identified as Sadam Hussain, Subair, Mubarak, and Mohammad Rafiqul Hassan, guilty of charges including murder, criminal conspiracy, and promoting communal enmity. Each was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined Rs 30,000.
This case stems from an incident in 2016 that caused significant tension across six districts in Tamil Nadu. The local police initially registered more than 300 cases to manage the law-and-order situation that followed the violence. In 2018, the central government transferred the investigation to the NIA, citing the involvement of organized groups and the need for a deeper probe into the conspiracy. The investigation determined that the perpetrators were active members of the Popular Front of India (PFI).
The trial, which began in 2019, relied on evidence and statements from 75 prosecution witnesses. The court proceedings highlight the legal approach taken by federal agencies against individuals linked to banned organizations. Notably, the Union government officially proscribed the PFI in September 2022, citing concerns over activities that threatened national integrity and links to terror-related actions. This verdict serves as the first judicial conviction involving PFI members under the agency’s oversight since the official ban took effect.
While the court handed down sentences for the four primary accused, it acquitted a fifth individual, identified as Abu, alias Syed Abuthagir. Following the judgment, the NIA has confirmed that it is reviewing the court records. The agency intends to explore legal options to challenge this acquittal in a higher court. The conclusion of this trial is a notable step in the long-running legal proceedings related to the 2016 case, and the agency’s subsequent appeal will be the next development to follow.