Four Years After PFI Crackdown, Former Muslim Leaders Remain in Custody as Legal Proceedings Continue

Four Years After PFI Crackdown, Former Muslim Leaders Remain in Custody as Legal Proceedings Continue
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Several senior Muslim leaders arrested during India’s nationwide crackdown on the Popular Front of India (PFI) completed four years in prison on 22 September 2026, as court proceedings continue under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested 42 people in September 2022 during its first nationwide operation against the PFI. Days later, the Indian government banned the organisation and several affiliated groups for five years, declaring them “unlawful associations.”

The case was registered under provisions related to criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity, and multiple sections of the UAPA. Some local and state-level leaders have since received bail, while several senior figures remain imprisoned.

In July 2026, a special NIA court in Delhi formally framed charges against the banned organisation and 20 of its office bearers. The accused have denied the allegations and chosen to face trial.

Families of the detained leaders have continued to raise concerns over their prolonged imprisonment and health conditions.