Court denies bail to PFI leader, NIA claims organised armed training camps

A court has dismissed the bail petition of the national in-charge of the education wing of the banned PFI after the NIA opposed the plea, alleging that he had organised armed training and propagated ISIS ideology.

NIA Court judge MK Mohandas on Friday dismissed the bail plea of Ashraf alias Karamanna Ashraf Moulavi, the national in-charge of the PFI education wing and vice president of the All-India Imams Council affiliated to the banned organisation.

He is the second accused in the case registered in connection with the alleged anti-national activities of the Popular Front of India (PFI).

He is also an accused in the murder of RSS leader Sreenivasan in Palakkad.

Objecting to the bail plea, the NIA submitted that Ashraf organised arms training imparted by the PFI at Periyar Valley in Kochi and at the Trivandrum Educational Services Trust (TEST) as preparation for committing terrorist acts.

The order, referring to the NIA’s objections, stated that the statement of Protected Witness no. 3 revealed that Ashraf, along with other accused, organised armed training at Periyar Valley through the 15th accused, Muhammad Mubarak.

“During the search of the residence of Mubarak on December 29, 2022, three swords and one axe were seized. It is submitted that an axe was used by PFI cadres in the hand-chopping case of Prof Joseph in Kerala, investigated by the NIA,” the order stated, citing the agency’s submission.

The NIA further submitted that Ashraf, along with other accused, was involved in the conspiracy relating to the murder of Sreenivasan.