The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is reportedly in the process of revoking the Indian passport issued to controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik who has been waging jihad through his poisonous lectures and speeches.
According to the Indian Express report, Naik holds Passport No -Z2200757 that was issued in Mumbai on May 13, 2011. His passport was renewed on 20 January, 2016 in Mumbai and a new passport was issued in his name bearing the number Z3606623 with a validity of 10 years.
NIA sources suggest that it was in September, 2012 that Zakir Naik obtained a status of Non-Resident Indian. He left India on 13 May this year and has not returned since then. Naik, who believed to be having permanent residence status in Malaysia, has reportedly applied for Malaysian citizenship. Intelligence sources suggest that Government of India is planning to use its diplomatic channels to block Zakir Naik’s attempts to get citizenship in any country. Malaysian authorities are aware about terror cases pending against Naik.
The NIA had approached the Interpol for issuance of a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Naik and sent the requisite documents to National Central Bureau (Interpol) NCB on May 11, 2017.
During the investigation, the NIA found that 37 properties owned by Naik and companies run by him are estimated to be worth more than Rs 100 crore. The Enforcement Directorate had attached properties of Zakir Naik-led Islamic Research Foundation worth Rs. 18.37 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Naik is found to have huge investments in various properties across Mumbai and Pune. The NIA has also reportedly traced a web of at least 11 companies incorporated by Naik with his family members and close aides as directors. NIA has also tracked the trail of financial transactions running into many crores through these companies and the bank accounts of his sister Nailah Noorani and his father Late Abdul Karim Naik. All these transactions took place in the last few years.
The NIA has registered a criminal case against Naik under Sections 153A of Indian Penal Code and Sections 10, 13 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The special NIA Court at Mumbai has issued a non-bailable warrant against Naik.
Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) has already been declared as an Unlawful Association by Government of India as per a notification dated November 17, 2016.
NIA sources suggest that Abu Anas, who has been chargesheeted in the “ISIS conspiracy case” registered by the NIA in 2015, had received a scholarship from Naik’s IRF for three consecutive years – from 2013 to 2015. Hyderabad-based Anas was allegedly part of a conspiracy linked to Junood-ul-Khalifa-fil-Hind, an ISIS-affiliated group.
