NIA court jails 4 PFI members for life in 2016 Hindu Munnani murder
Synopsis
Nearly a decade after Hindu Munnani spokesperson C. Sasikumar was hacked to death in Coimbatore, a Chennai NIA court has handed life sentences to four PFI members — making it the agency's first conviction of PFI operatives since the organisation was banned. One accused was acquitted, and NIA is exploring an appeal, keeping the case legally alive.
Key Takeaways
A Chennai NIA Special Court sentenced four PFI members — Sadam Hussain, Subair, Mubarak , and Mohammad Rafiqul Hassan — to life imprisonment on 25 September 2026 .
The conviction relates to the 22 September 2016 murder of C.
Sasikumar , spokesperson of Hindu Munnani, Coimbatore .
Each convict was also fined ₹30,000 ; the crime triggered violence across 6 districts and over 300 FIRs .
This is NIA's first conviction involving PFI operatives since the Central government formally banned the organisation.
A fifth accused, Abu alias Syed Abuthagir , was acquitted; NIA is reviewing legal options to challenge the acquittal.
Charges included IPC Sections 302, 120-B, 153-A and UAPA Sections 16, 18, 20 .
The Special Court for NIA Cases, Poonamallee, Chennai, on Thursday, 25 September 2026, convicted and sentenced four active cadres of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) to life imprisonment for the 2016 murder of C. Sasikumar, spokesperson of Hindu Munnani, Coimbatore. The verdict is notable as NIA's first conviction involving PFI operatives since the Central government formally banned the organisation.
The Convicted and the Sentence
The four individuals sentenced to life imprisonment are Sadam Hussain, Subair, Mubarak, and Mohammad Rafiqul Hassan. Each has also been ordered to pay a fine of ₹30,000, according to an NIA statement. A fifth co-accused, Abu alias Syed Abuthagir, was acquitted by the Special Court. The NIA has said it is currently reviewing the judgment and exploring all available legal avenues to challenge the acquittal before the appellate court.
The Crime and Its Fallout
On 22 September 2016, Sasikumar was hacked to death in Coimbatore. According to the NIA, the targeted killing was executed with the clear intent to strike terror among a section of society and to incite communal disruption across the region. The incident triggered widespread violence across six districts, including Coimbatore City and Coimbatore Rural, prompting state authorities to register more than 300 FIRs.
Investigation and Trial
The case was initially registered at Thudiyalur Police Station, Coimbatore, and subsequently investigated by the CB-CID, Tamil Nadu. On the orders of the Central government, the case was transferred to the NIA and re-registered as RC-03/2018/NIA/DLI on 22 January 2018. The NIA's investigation established that the accused, as active PFI members, entered into a criminal conspiracy and executed the killing. The agency filed a charge sheet and two supplementary charge sheets against five accused persons. The trial, which commenced in 2019, examined 75 prosecution witnesses and 2 defence witnesses before culminating in Thursday's verdict.
Legal Provisions Invoked
The four convicted persons were found guilty of offences under Sections 302, 120-B, and 153-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), as well as Sections 16, 18, and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This combination of charges — covering murder, criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity, and terror-related provisions — reflects the prosecution's argument that the killing was not merely criminal but had a larger communal and terror dimension.
Significance of the Verdict
This conviction marks a landmark moment in the NIA's sustained crackdown on PFI networks following the organisation's ban. The nearly nine-year journey from crime to conviction — spanning a state police investigation, a CB-CID probe, a Central handover, and a multi-year trial — underscores both the complexity of such cases and the challenges of prosecuting terror-linked offences. With the acquittal of one accused still under review, the legal process is not yet fully concluded.
Point of View
Arriving at a moment when the organisation's legal challenges to the ban are still winding through courts. Yet the acquittal of one accused will invite scrutiny: in high-profile terror-linked cases, partial acquittals often become the headline that overshadows convictions. The nine-year gap between crime and conviction also raises a structural question about the pace of UAPA trials, which are meant to be expedited. If the NIA fails to overturn the acquittal on appeal, it risks signalling a gap in its evidentiary chain — something defence lawyers in parallel PFI cases will certainly exploit.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were convicted in the 2016 Hindu Munnani spokesperson murder case?
Four PFI members — Sadam Hussain, Subair, Mubarak, and Mohammad Rafiqul Hassan — were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the NIA Special Court in Chennai on 25 September 2026. Each was also fined ₹30,000.
Who was C. Sasikumar and why was he targeted?
C. Sasikumar was the spokesperson of Hindu Munnani in Coimbatore, who was hacked to death on 22 September 2016. According to the NIA, the killing was a targeted act intended to strike terror among a section of society and incite communal unrest across the region.
Why is this verdict significant for the NIA?
This is the NIA's first conviction involving PFI operatives since the Central government officially banned the Popular Front of India. It validates the agency's long-running investigation and prosecution under both IPC and UAPA provisions.
Was anyone acquitted in this case?
Yes, one co-accused — Abu alias Syed Abuthagir — was acquitted by the Special Court. The NIA has stated it is reviewing the judgment and considering all legal avenues to challenge the acquittal before a higher court.
What charges were the convicts found guilty of?
The four convicts were found guilty under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and 153-A (promoting enmity between groups), along with UAPA Sections 16, 18, and 20, which cover terrorist acts, conspiracy, and membership of a terrorist organisation.
