Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sent summons to officials of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), as part of the probe into a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against IRF. The officials have been asked to appear before the ED for questioning by Saturday. The PMLA case was lodged a week ago to investigate alleged irregularities to the tune of Rs 50 crore related to receipt of funds from abroad.
Sources said, “On Monday, summons have been issued to IRF on the Mumbai office address, asking that representatives be sent to give some answer on its behalf.” “If none of the IRF officials turn up at the ED office this week, ED officials will send an officer from their side to the IRF office with the same order to represent IRF. Then too, if they do not follow orders, we will arrest them.”
Officials said that ED’s zonal office had already registered a FIR, called Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in ED parlance, against Naik and others after taking cognisance of a similar complaint booked by NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against them. Sources said, “The documents from NIA are yet to be received by ED. So, officials are waiting for some important information to begin the investigation.” They said that the ED would specifically look into charges of alleged illegal funds laundered by the accused and proceeds of crime.
The NIA in December 2016 registered a case against 51-year-old Naik under anti-terror laws for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and race. After registering the case against Naik, IRF and others, NIA, along with the Mumbai police, carried out searches at 10 places in the megapolis, including residential premises of some of the office bearers of IRF.
