NEW DELHI: The Centre is all set to cancel the FCRA licence of Islamic Research Foundation run by controversial Salafist preacher Zakir Naik with the Union Home Ministry issuing the final show cause notice to the outfit for violations relating to foreign grants.
Once the licence of IRF under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act cancelled, the outfit will be banned to receive offshore donations.
This besides, the Ministry has also put another NGO run by Naik IRF Educational Trust in prior permission category, which means each and every foreign contribution will be vetted by the Government on a case to case basis.
The moves come after ascertaining mis-utilisation of funds by the NGOs run by Naik. Probes conducted by the Government and its agencies have found that Naik allegedly misused funds for radicalising youth into hardline Salafist form of Islam and even terror activities, sources said.
The Centre is also actively considering a proposal to declare IRF an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Ministry is preparing a draft note for Cabinet approval to the effect after a Maharashtra police probe report found that Naik was involved in terror propaganda through his provocative speeches.
Naik’s role came under the scanner after Dhaka terror attack in July. Naik’s hardline preachings were available in Bangladesh through his Peace TV which was subsequently banned there.
The controversial preacher is banned in other countries including UK, Canada and Malaysia.