The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested one more accused in connection with the 2019 murder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) functionary Ramalingam in Tamil Nadu, a case that has been linked to the banned Popular Front of India (PFI). The arrest follows extensive searches across nine locations in the state, the agency said in a statement on Thursday.
According to the NIA, the accused, identified as Imthathullah, proprietor of the Ambur Biryani Hotels in Kodaikanal, was taken into custody for “knowingly and voluntarily harbouring” three proclaimed offenders wanted in the Ramalingam murder case. The agency alleged that Imthathullah had sheltered the absconding men at his hotel outlets between 2021 and 2024.
The searches were carried out in Dindigul and Tenkasi districts on Wednesday morning as part of the agency’s continuing efforts to track down those evading arrest. During the operation, incriminating documents and digital devices were seized, which the NIA said would be examined for further leads.
The 2019 Murder Case
Ramalingam, a PMK party worker, was brutally hacked to death on February 5, 2019, at Paku Vinayakam Thoppu in Thanjavur district. Investigators alleged that his murder was orchestrated by members and office bearers of the PFI in an attempt to create communal tensions and spread fear.
The NIA, which took over the case from the Tamil Nadu Police in March 2019, filed a chargesheet against 18 accused before a special court in Chennai by August that year. Of the accused, six remained absconding.
In subsequent years, the agency has steadily tracked down several of the missing accused. In 2021, one of the absconders, Rahman Sadiq, was arrested. In November 2024, the NIA arrested Abdul Majeed and Shahul Hameed—both earlier proclaimed offenders—from the Poombarai area of Kodaikanal. During the same operation, the agency also apprehended another alleged harbourer, Mohammed Ali Jinnah, who was named as the 19th accused in the case.
Two Similar Names, One Still Absconding
The investigation has been complicated by the involvement of two accused with almost identical names — Mohammed Ali Jinnah and Mohammed Ali Jinna. While Jinnah was arrested last year, Jinna continues to remain on the run. Officials clarified that the two are distinct individuals and both have been named in the case at different stages.
Along with Jinna, two more proclaimed offenders — Burhanudeen and Nafeel Hasan — are still absconding. All three hail from Thanjavur district and were reportedly local office bearers of the PFI. The NIA has announced a cash reward of ₹5 lakh each for credible information leading to their arrest.
PFI’s Ban and Wider Crackdown
The Ramalingam case is one among several across India linked to the Popular Front of India, which was banned by the Union government in September 2022 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for alleged involvement in terror activities and radicalisation. The outfit, which had a strong presence in states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, has been accused by security agencies of fomenting communal unrest and aiding extremist groups.
With Imthathullah’s arrest, the NIA has further tightened its net around those accused of shielding the masterminds and perpetrators of the Ramalingam killing. However, the continued absconding of three key figures underscores the challenges that remain in fully closing the case.
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