JOIN USControversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik was dealt twin blows on Monday, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attaching assets and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) issuing a second notice.
The ED attached properties of the Naik-led Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and others worth Rs 18.37 crore, which included bank balance and investment in mutual funds and real estate.
The agency had registered a case of money laundering against the organisation based on an FIR registered by NIA in November.
Naik and his associates were accused of indulging in unlawful activities and through his provocative utterances, promoting enmity and hatred between different religious groups in India.
The ED was prompted to take action after Naik avoided all the four summons. The agency claimed that he generated income through provocative speeches and it was either routed and transferred or utilised for the purpose other than stipulated.
“A Provisional Attachment Order attaching mutual fund having value of Rs. 9.41 crore of IRF, a godown having value of Rs 0.68 crore of M/s Harmony Media Pvt Ltd and a school building valued at Rs 7.05 crore belonging to the Islamic Education Trust, Chennai, has been issued,” an ED statement said.
The NIA, on the other hand, issued a second notice to Naik, asking him to appear in its Delhi office on March 30 in a case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
DH News Service