The Delhi High Court approved bail for M K Faizi, the President of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), who was previously in custody related to money laundering allegations. The legal troubles began when a trial court dismissed Faizi’s initial request for bail on August 28, 2025.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged a connection between the fund transfers from the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) to the SDPI. Faizi has been a member of the PFI since its inception and established the SDPI in 2009.

Judicial Proceedings

The decision to grant bail was made by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna after evaluating arguments from both Faizi’s defense counsel and the representatives of the ED.

The details of the court’s ruling are yet to be made public. Faizi had submitted his bail application through legal representative Rajat Bhardwaj. Previously, the Patiala House Court rejected Faizi’s bail plea, taking into account the evidence and arguments presented by the investigating agency. The court considered Faizi’s failure to appear before the ED upon summons and indicated that he might be a flight risk given his political stature.

Concerns Raised by the Court

During the prior hearings, the court highlighted the significance of Faizi’s position as a party president. It noted that such a role inherently provides him with considerable influence, citing that the leader of a political party typically commands loyalty and attention from its supporters.

The court expressed concerns over the possibility of Faizi utilizing this influence to evade legal processes. The judgement from the August 28 hearing emphasized that there was insufficient evidence to counter the flight risk inference drawn from Faizi’s conduct.

Investigation Insights

Furthermore, the court acknowledged the ED’s supplementary prosecution complaint, in which the SDPI is named as one of the accused parties. The ED’s application of Section 70 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) was deemed relevant, given Faizi’s leadership role in the organization. Faizi’s legal counsel contended that he had no involvement in the alleged activities, though this assertion had not been formally challenged in court.

Allegations Against Faizi

The court maintained its stance against the defense’s arguments, specifically rejecting claims that the alleged influence of the PFI over the SDPI was unfounded. The court noted that documentation regarding SDPI’s existence and structure was included in the supplementary complaint. Faizi was taken into custody last March at Indira Gandhi Airport while traveling from Kochi to Delhi.

Additional Charges and Context

In its opposition to Faizi’s bail plea, the ED detailed participants in the ongoing investigations, including an FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on February 16, 2021. This FIR included serious charges under the Indian Penal Code as well as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The agency reported that certain individuals connected to the PFI were arrested with explosive devices, firearms, and other dangerous materials.

Furthermore, the ED claimed Faizi received approximately INR 3.50 lakh in his bank accounts from various PFI accounts between January 2018 and January 2021 intended for training the PFI’s members. The PFI was officially designated as an unlawful organization on September 28, 2022.

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