NIA conducts searches in 15 locations of Tamil Nadu in Ramalingam murder case

New Delhi, August 5

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted searches er the premises of persons suspected to be closely associated with five absconding Proclaimed Offenders (POs) across 15 locations in Tamil Nadu in connection with Ramalingam Murder Case.

The NIA had filed a chargesheet against 18 accused persons, including the five absconding accused persons, on 2nd August 2019.

The NIA Special Court had declared these five absconding accused persons -Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Abdul Majith, Bhurkanudeen, Shahul Hameed and Nafeel Hasan as Proclaimed Offenders. NIA has announced a reward of Rs. 5 lakhs to the general public/anyone providing information leading to the arrest of the five absconders.

Ramalingam was assassinated on 5th February 2019 in Paku Vinayakam Thoppu, Thanjavur by members and office bearers of the PFI, who had avenged and conspired to kill him as the victim had intervened in the dawah work / proselytization carried out by PFI dawah team despatched from Arivagam, Theni to forcibly convert underprivileged persons in Paku Vinayakm Thoppu. Investigation established that the violence was unleashed to strike fear among the opponents of the PFI outfit.

PFI has been declared as an ‘unlawful association’ under UAPA by the Government of India on 28th September 2022 and Arivagam, Theni has already been attached as proceeds of terrorism u/s 25 of UA(P)
Act, 1967. The searches conducted in the districts of Thanjavur, Trichy, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Thiruvarur and Karaikal led to the seizure of several digital devices and documents connected to the case