MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday filed a chargesheet against Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in a special court in Mumbai. Zakir Naik, who fled India on July 1, 2016, after it became known that terrorists in Bangladesh claimed to be inspired by his speeches, is being probed for allegedly delivering hate speeches to incite youngsters to take up terror activities.
In the 50-page chargesheet filed by the NIA, Naik (51) is accused of indulging in unlawful activities, spreading hatred through provocative speeches, deliberately indulging in malicious acts, insulting religion to disturb communal harmony, funding terrorists and laundering several crores of rupees.
Zakir Naik’s Mumbai-based NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) has been declared an unlawful organisation by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The chargesheet also mentions his other firm, Harmony Media Private Ltd.
Naik’s passport was revoked by the Ministry of External Affairs at the request of the NIA earlier this year. The agency has thrice issued notices under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, asking him to join the investigation, but he did not appear before it.
The NIA chargesheet includes 85 witness statements and eight statements made under Section 164 of CrPC. These include a statement by Naik’s sister Nailah Noorani, who confessed that her brother was using her as a tool in a company set up by him. The other damaging evidence is a statement by Amir Gazdar, a close aide of the preacher.
The NIA also charged that IRF and the IRF trusts have received huge donations from within India and abroad. Most of the acknowledgment receipts mention only ‘well wisher’ instead of the real name of the donor.
Naik has been booked under Sections 120B of the Indian Penal Code for waging war against the nation, 295A for deliberate and malicious acts, 298 for intending to outrage religious feelings and Sections 10, 13 and 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Naik is said to have acquired citizenship of Saudi Arabia, though it has not been confirmed yet. The chargesheet comes nearly a year after the MHA banned the IRF. (With inputs from Delhi bureau)