NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is expected to complete its investigation against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s alleged role in terror funding. NIA will chargesheet in this week where money laundering charges to be framed against Naik and will be submitted before a special court, according to NIA officials.
51-year-old televangelist, who fled the country in July last year, is being probed under terror and money-laundering charges by the NIA. He fled from India on July 1, 2016, after terrorists in neighbouring Bangladesh claimed that they were inspired by his speeches.
The NIA had on November 18, 2016, registered a case against Naik at its Mumbai branch under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His Mumbai-based NGO, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), has already been declared an unlawful association by the Union Home Ministry.
Naik, a medical doctor-turned preacher, is accused of spreading hatred by his provocative speeches, has been accused of funding terrorist and laundering several crores of rupees over the years. The Mumbai-based preacher came under the lens of security agencies after some terrorists allegedly involved in the attack on a cafe in Dhaka in July last year reportedly claimed they were inspired by his speeches.
The Interpol was approached against Naik after a year-long probe during which the NIA gathered evidence on his IRF and Peace TV being used to allegedly promote hatred between different religious groups and his TV channel has also been off air by the union government.
On the basis of NIA request, passport of Naik was also been revoked by the Ministry of External Affairs.