ED's non-bailable warrant against Zakir Naik reserved

Mumbai: A special court has reserved its order for today over the application moved by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), seeking a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against controversial preacher and televangelist Dr Zakir Naik in connection with a case registered against him by the agency under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED has sought an NBW against Naik on the ground that he did not appear before it for questioning and recording of statement despite sending four summons since January 11, 2017.

The ED is probing alleged irregularities worth Rs 60 crore in the receipt of overseas funds by Naik and his entities including NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF). Hiten Venegaonkar, ED’s counsel, claimed instead of appearing before the agency, Naik is trying to put pre-condition and dictate terms as to how his statement should be recorded. Naik has sought time to comply with the summons, asking the agency to record his statement via video conferencing.

Advocate Mr Venegaonkar submitted a copy of the e-mail dated March 4, sent by Naik to Prakash Poojari, assistant director of ED. In the e mail, Naik has accepted that he has received the copy of the summons issued by the ED and has refuted all the allegations levelled against him. The e-mail reads, “I have done nothing that is outside the framework of law or contrary to what the law of the land stipulates.”

In the e-mail, Naik further said, “I shall provide you with all the information sought by you in the above summons, provided I am given some more time to collect the data which are currently out of my physical reach.”

Venegaonkar argued that the accused should not dictate terms to investigation agency and must comply with the summons.

Meanwhile Naik’s advocate Taraq Sayed moved the PMLA court and informed the judge that he had already moved an application before the court against ED’s application. The court has asked him to make submission before court today.