Mumbai: In the wake of Malaysia refusing to hand over fugitive televangelist Zakir Naik to India, the controversial preacher has reiterated his offer to come to India if given a written confirmation by the Supreme Court (SC) of not being arrested.
Mr Naik has reiterated his lack of belief in the prosecuting authorities and sought insulation from prison till conviction.
Following the Malaysian government’s all-out support, Mr Naik issued a statement through his spokesperson Arif Malik.
“As much as I want to hasten the clearing of my name from fictitious charges by Indian agencies, they continue an exercise steeped in injustice and unfairness, and are trying everything to put me in jail irrespective of whether I’m guilty or not. The objective of all their actions seems to be to put me behind bars without trial and without hearing. In the process, the Enforcement Directorate continues to waste its time and taxpayers’ money in bringing about injustice and harassment,” the
statement read.
“None of my offers (to be questioned) were taken up. I was banned without being given a single chance to explain my side of the story. I trust the Indian judiciary but sadly, not the prosecution system. However, there’s one other offer I’ve made earlier and I stand by that even today. If the Supreme Court of India gives me in writing that I will not be arrested and jailed until I am convicted, I will return to India, and
I will return today,” it said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) are probing Mr Naik and his organisation, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), in connection with money laundering and spreading of hatred between communities through provocative speeches.
