Mumbai: Televangelist and Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has allegedly been evading the summons of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the alleged money laundering case, but the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has now issued a notice to him, asking him to appear before it at their New Delhi headquarters. The NIA has asked Naik to come to undergo questioning on March 14. The ED meanwhile recorded the statement of Naik’s sister Nailah Noorani at Mumbai for four hours during which she claimed that she acted at the behest of Naik.
Naik has been evading ED officials for over a month and had not come for questioning despite receiving four summons from the agency. ED officials are awaiting his response after serving the last summons and are likely to initiate further action against him next week.
Meanwhile, the NIA tightened its clutches on Naik and sent a notice to Naik that was served at his residence at Jasmine Apartments in Mazgaon. The notice pertains to the case registered by NIA under the provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against Naik and his non-profit organisation Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).
In the notice, Naik has been asked for joining the investigation at NIA headquarters, New Delhi on March 14. The notice was served to his brother Mohammad Abdul Karim Naik.
Investigations of the NIA revealed that Naik is the founding trustee of IRF, IRF Educational Trust, and the Islamic Dimensions Trust.
Apart from this, he is has close connections with the Peace TV channel, Harmony Media Private Limited, Longlast Constructions Private Limited, Right Property Solutions Private Limited, Galaxy Multichannel Network Private Limited, Majestic Perfumes Private Limited and Alpha Lubricants Private Limited. The ED officials questioned Noorani over her activities, as she holds 90 per cent shares in four of the six companies floated by Naik. “Around Rs 28 crore were sent by Naik to Noorani’s bank account and the transactions were between Naik’s fathers’ account and Noorani’s” said a senior ED officer.
