Controversial televangelist Zakir Naik has been asked to appear before the National Investigative Agency (NIA) on March 14, officials said…
Controversial televangelist Zakir Naik has been asked to appear before the National Investigative Agency (NIA) on March 14, officials said on Tuesday.
Earlier reports had suggested that the controversial Islamic preacher would be recording his statement in a case of suspected money-laundering via video conferencing as the atmosphere was not conducive for Naik to return to India.
Naik and his NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), are facing charges under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
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The NIA has filed cases against Naik under the UAPA for allegedly promoting enmity between groups on religious and racial grounds, and raided over a dozen offices, residential premises, his Peace TV offices, and other locations, besides freezing a bank account of his NGO.
The ED has already probed certain bank documents and transaction details of the 51-year-old Naik and IRF and may issue summons to him shortly, an ED official said in Mumbai.
On November 15, the Union government banned the IRF for five years after declaring it as an "unlawful association" under the anti-terror laws.
Prior to that, the Union Home Ministry revoked the IRF's permission to receive foreign donations under the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act and placed IRF Education Trust under a prior permission category for the same.
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