The Special Court for NIA Cases, Poonamallee, Chennai, on Friday (September 25, 2026) convicted and sentenced four cadre of the banned outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) to life imprisonment in connection with the 2016 murder of C. Sasikumar, spokesperson of Hindu Munnani, Coimbatore.

The convicted individuals — Sadam Hussain, Subair, Mubarak, and Mohammad Rafiqul Hassan — were sentenced to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹30,000. “This verdict marks NIA’s first conviction involving PFI operatives since the organisation was officially banned by the Government of India,” said a press release from NIA.

On September 22, 2016, Sasikumar was hacked to death in Coimbatore. The targeted killing was executed with the clear intent to strike terror among a section of society and incite communal disruption across the region, the NIA said. The incident sparked widespread violence across six districts, including Coimbatore City and Coimbatore Rural, leading to the registration of over 300 FIRs by State authorities.

The case was initially registered at Thudiyalur police station, Coimbatore, and was later investigated by CB-CID, Tamil Nadu. On the orders of the Government of India, dated January 22, 2018, the case was entrusted to the NIA and re-registered.

The investigation established that the accused persons, being active members of the PFI, had entered into a criminal conspiracy and executed the targeted killing. After investigation, the NIA filed a chargesheet and two supplementary chargesheets against five accused persons.

The agency said the trial commenced in 2019, during which 75 prosecution witnesses and two defence witnesses were examined. The trial culminated in the conviction of four accused for offences under sections 302, 120-B, and 153-A of the IPC, and sections 16, 18, and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The Special Court acquitted one co-accused, identified as Abu alias Syed Abuthagir. The NIA is currently reviewing the judgment and exploring all available legal avenues to challenge the acquittal in the appellate court, the release said.