Agency seeks to declare Zakir Naik FEO

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Monday moved an application before the special PMLA court, seeking to declare controversial televangelist Dr Zakir Naik a fugitive economic offender (FEO) under the recently promulgated Fugitive Economic Offenders’ Ordinance.

The ED’s counsel Sanjana Sharma Monday moved the application before special Judge Prashant Rajvaidya, seeking to declare Dr Naik a FEO. Along with the application, advocate Sharma also submitted documents in a sealed envelope to support the ED’s claim that a case was made out against Dr Naik to declare him a FEO. The Judge has now fixed September 30 to hear arguments on the application.

The fresh application has been moved a week after the court, on the ED’s plea, issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Dr Naik. The NBW was issued soon after Dr Naik failed to comply with the summons issued by the court, asking him to personally appear before it. Dr Naik’s lawyer Taraq Sayed had moved an application before the court, seeking two months’ time to comply with the court order however the ED opposed this plea following which, the court rejected Dr Naik’s application and issued the NBW.

The ED booked Dr Naik in 2016 for allegedly laundering money worth crores of rupees and also another case was registered against him by the National Investigation Agency for promoting enmity between different groups through his speeches.