PFI Member Arrested After 3-Year Manhunt in Kerala RSS Worker Murder Investigation

The NIA has alleged that accused Shahul Hameed is an active member of the banned outfit PFI.

A NIA court in Kochi has granted five days' custodial interrogation for Shahul Hameed, the 50th accused in the RSS worker Sreenivasan murder case, following his arrest at Delhi airport after evading authorities for over three years.

According to the Special Court for NIA Cases in Ernakulam, Shahul Hameed, who hails from Palakkad district, was apprehended at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi at 4:15 am on November 27, 2025, based on a Look Out Circular.

The suspect appeared before the NIA court, and on December 1, 2025, the judge ordered his remand to NIA custody from 12:30 pm that day until 5:00 pm on December 5, 2025, for thorough interrogation.

In submissions to the court, the NIA claimed Shahul Hameed actively participates in the banned Popular Front of India organization and is involved in a broader conspiracy to advance PFI's "India 2047" agenda, which allegedly aims to establish Islamic rule in India.

Authorities have accused him of participating in a terrorist gang, sheltering the 18th accused following RSS worker Sreenivasan's murder, and engaging in activities harmful to communal harmony and public peace in Kerala, according to documents reviewed by NDTV.

Investigators informed the court that Shahul Hameed utilized various digital devices and social media platforms for covert communications before, during, and after the crime while remaining outside the country as a fugitive for more than three years.

Digital devices confiscated during his arrest were presented to the court for forwarding to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Hyderabad for comprehensive analysis. Any incriminating data discovered will be used during his questioning.

Court records indicate that during the investigation, officers seized numerous documents, including "hit lists," lists of physical education trainers, and lists of PFI "reporters," which investigators plan to confront Shahul Hameed with during custody.

The NIA has also notified the court that he is allegedly involved in additional criminal cases registered in Kerala, and that his connections with various suspects, including fugitives, need to be thoroughly investigated as part of the ongoing investigation.

Dismissing the defense argument that police custody was unnecessary, the court determined that custodial interrogation is essential to uncover Shahul Hameed's complete role and that of other suspects in the conspiracy.

RSS worker Sreenivasan was killed on April 16, 2022, at his bike repair workshop in Melamuri, Palakkad, by members of the now-banned PFI organization. The NIA's initial chargesheet named over 70 accused individuals. The case proved significant as it provided the Union government with substantial evidence regarding PFI's activities, which ultimately led to the organization's ban.

During the investigation, the NIA uncovered a network of PFI operatives conducting underground arms training and revealed various roles its members played in planning terror activities and creating hit lists of potential targets.