AS Sainaba, president of the Popular Front of India (PFI) women’s wing will soon be interrogated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the Hadiya case, according to various reports.
This comes in the wake of her alleged statements about religious conversion in a sting operation conducted by India Today television channel.
The leader of the women’s wing confirmed to TNM that she had been interrogated by the NIA in connection with the Hadiya case a few weeks ago.
She however questioned the sudden spurt in stories on the Popular Front of India and the sting operation by India Today.
“Why are there so many media stories just when the Supreme Court is about to hear Hadiya? Aren’t we indirectly putting pressure on the court? Let Hadiya come to court and disclose her preference. Why are we so afraid of what a 25-year-old had to say?” she said.
Sainaba also said that she had been introduced to Hadiya only after the young woman had decided to convert. She said that she had not been in touch with Hadiya since last December.
Hadiya’s father Asokan meanwhile has alleged that there were plans to take his daughter to Syria and he was only saving her from further trouble.
NIA probe
The NIA questioned Sainaba since the agency suspected the involvement of Sainaba and Sathya Sarani - Manjeri based educational institution and conversion centre, in about 10 conversion cases in the past six months.
The Supreme Court had directed the NIA to take over the investigation in the Hadiya case.
The investigation agency had later widened the scope of the probe by including similar cases. This also included the source of funding for the establishment involved in these cases.
Twenty-five-year-old Hadiya, who embraced Islam, had stayed with Sainaba in Malappuram after she left her home to study Islam.
Hadiya’s father Ashokan alleged that Sathya Sarani was involved in several illegal and forced conversions.
When the Kerala High Court heard Ashokan’s petition alleging that efforts were being made to transport Hadiya to another country in August, after it dismissed his habeas corpus petition filed in January, Hadiya told court that Sainaba was her guardian and she didn’t want to go with her parents.
In September, the court sent Hadiya with Sainaba and gave directions that the police should be informed if Hadiya was shifting to another place.
According to Hadiya’s lawyer, her wedding with Shafin Jahan happened at the house of Sainaba.
The High Court had annulled the wedding as Ashokan challenged it, alleging that it was an act of forcible conversion.