MUMBAI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sought a non-bailable warrant against controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik on Monday and moved an application in the Special Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Court. The court is likely to hear the argument and pass an order on Wednesday.
Zakir Naik, who is currently away in Saudi Arabia, has not responded to multiple summonses issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). “Naik had been given ample opportunities to cooperate with the agency. He was summoned four times but has failed to appear. This gives a ground for the agency to seek a warrant against him,” Advocate Hiten Venegavkar, who represented ED told the New Indian Express.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had earlier rejected Zakir Naik’s request to depose through video conferencing, stating that the option could not be granted given the seriousness of the charges.
Sources from ED, which is probing the trail of over Rs 200 crore received by Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and his relatives, said that Naik established dummy companies in India and abroad “for the diversion of funds”. The probe gathered momentum with the arrest of Naik’s close aide Aamir Gazdar.
“Gazdar played a pivotal role in acquiring and disposing of the cash. Dummy companies were used to camouflage the diversion of funds received by Naik though his illegal activities and provocative speeches,” the sources said.
Aamir Gazdar was director of at least six companies established by Naik, two of which are in England — Universal Broadcasting Corporation Ltd and Lords production Inc Ltd. The rest are based in Mumbai — Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, Long-lost constructions Pvt Ltd, Majestic Perfumes Pvt Ltd and Alpha Lubricants Pvt Ltd., sources from ED said.
Transactions between Aamir Gazdar and Zakir Naik are under the agency’s lens. The ED alleged that Gazdar would file IT returns in his wife and children’s names. ED also revealed that videos of Naik’s provocative speeches were produced and exported to be telecast in Dubai.
“Naik conducted transactions involving large sums through Gazdar, without leaving a trail of where the money came from or what it was used for. The cash was collected and disbursed to employees and officials of the IRF trust,” the agency has alleged.
ED has recorded the statements of Zakir Naik’s sister Nailah Noorani and brother Mohammad Abdul Karim Naik. The two said they were unaware of Naik’s financial dealings.
Once the agency gets a non-bailable arrest warrant against Naik, it would seek Letters Rogatory or letters of request from the same court for UK and UAE. These letters would be a formal request for judicial assistance from a foreign court.
Sources from the agency said Zaikir Naik’s overseas properties were also under the ED’s scanner.