NIA arrests PFI Palakkad chief K.P. Muhammadali at Delhi airport after 4-year Saudi hideout
Synopsis
Four years after fleeing to Saudi Arabia, PFI Palakkad district president K.P. Muhammadali was intercepted by the NIA at Delhi's IGI Airport the moment he landed — an Interpol Red Notice and a ₹3 lakh reward had been hanging over him. His arrest brings the total accused count in the Sreenivasan murder case to 67, a stark indicator of how wide the NIA's net in the PFI crackdown has been cast.
Key Takeaways
Muhammadali , PFI Palakkad district president , at IGI Airport, New Delhi on 23 July .
Muhammadali had been hiding in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for the past four years .
Total accused arrested in the Sreenivasan murder case now stands at 67 ; 65 have been charge-sheeted.
An Interpol Red Notice and a reward of ₹3 lakh had been declared for information leading to his arrest.
Sreenivasan was killed on 16 April 2022 by PFI cadres, according to NIA findings.
NIA investigation into the broader PFI network is ongoing.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested K.P. Muhammadali, the Popular Front of India (PFI) district president of Palakkad, at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, New Delhi, on Thursday morning, 23 July, upon his return from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he had been evading authorities for the past four years. The arrest is the latest development in the Sreenivasan murder case, linked to the now-banned PFI terror organisation, and brings the total number of accused apprehended in the case to 67.
Who Is Muhammadali and What Is He Accused Of
K.P. Muhammadali, a resident of Palakkad district, Kerala, served as the PFI Palakkad district president at the time of the alleged offence. Investigators have identified him as a prominent perpetrator of the murder conspiracy against Sreenivasan, who was killed on 16 April 2022. According to the NIA, Muhammadali also harboured the assailants involved in the killing after the act was carried out.
He is among the 65 accused charge-sheeted so far in the case, facing charges under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UA(P)A]. The NIA had earlier declared a reward of ₹3 lakh for information leading to his arrest, and an Interpol Red Notice had been issued against him — underscoring the agency's sustained pressure on absconding accused in the case.
The Sreenivasan Murder: Background
According to NIA findings, Sreenivasan was killed by PFI cadres on 16 April 2022 as part of the proscribed outfit's alleged conspiracy to spread terror with the stated agenda of establishing what investigators describe as 'Islamic Rule in India by 2047.' The NIA registered the case in September 2022 and has since conducted extensive investigations into the organisation's operational structure.
Probe findings indicate that the accused conspired to create a communal divide through violent extremism. Notably, investigators allege that PFI operated through specialised wings — including a Reporters Wing tasked with identifying targets, and Service Teams that executed attacks. The organisation reportedly used its offices and campuses to impart arms training to selected cadres under the cover of physical education and yoga sessions through its PE Wing.
NIA's Sustained Crackdown on PFI Accused
The arrest of Muhammadali reflects the NIA's continuing effort to close in on accused who fled the country following the PFI ban and subsequent crackdowns. His apprehension at the airport on arrival from Saudi Arabia — a country home to a significant Indian expatriate community — signals that the agency has been monitoring absconding accused through international channels, including the Interpol Red Notice mechanism.
With 67 arrests now recorded in the case, the NIA's investigation remains active. The agency has indicated that the probe is continuing, suggesting further developments may follow.
What Happens Next
Muhammadali is expected to face formal remand proceedings before a designated court. Given the Interpol Red Notice and the ₹3 lakh reward that had been placed on his information, his case will likely be fast-tracked within the NIA's existing charge-sheet framework. The investigation into the broader PFI network and its alleged terror infrastructure across Kerala and other states is ongoing.
Point of View
The case continues to expose the layered infrastructure the NIA alleges PFI built: a Reporters Wing for target identification, Service Teams for execution, and a PE Wing for arms training under civilian cover. With 67 arrests and counting, the investigation's breadth is not in doubt — but the slow pace of trials in terror cases means accountability remains a distant horizon for the victim's family. The real test of the NIA's work here is not the number of arrests, but whether the charge-sheet survives judicial scrutiny and delivers convictions.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is K.P. Muhammadali and why was he arrested?
K.P. Muhammadali is the PFI district president of Palakkad, Kerala, arrested by the NIA at IGI Airport, New Delhi on 23 July upon his return from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is accused of being a key conspirator in the murder of Sreenivasan on 16 April 2022 and of harbouring the assailants involved in the killing.
What is the Sreenivasan murder case?
The Sreenivasan murder case involves the killing of a man named Sreenivasan on 16 April 2022 in Kerala, allegedly carried out by PFI cadres. The NIA registered the case in September 2022 and has since arrested 67 accused, charging them under the IPC and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
How long had Muhammadali been absconding and where was he hiding?
Muhammadali had been evading arrest for approximately four years, hiding in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The NIA had issued an Interpol Red Notice against him and declared a reward of ₹3 lakh for information leading to his capture.
What is the total number of accused arrested in the PFI Sreenivasan case?
With Muhammadali's arrest, the total number of accused apprehended in the case has risen to 67. Of these, 65 have been charge-sheeted so far.
What does the NIA allege about PFI's organisational structure in this case?
The NIA alleges that PFI operated through specialised wings: a Reporters Wing to identify targets, Service Teams to carry out attacks, and a PE Wing that allegedly imparted arms training to cadres under the guise of physical education and yoga sessions at PFI offices and campuses.
