Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday questioned a few officials of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
ED had served summons on IRF on January 3, asking its officials to present themselves before the agency’s officials to explain alleged financial irregularities related to funds up to Rs 60 crore. Sources in the ED revealed the IRF was asked to appear before the ED by January 24. “We have questioned top officials of the IRF on Tuesday. The process of recording their statement has begun,” said an ED official.
The Enforcement Directorate had on Friday also issued summons to Zakir Naik under the same case. Naik, who is said to be abroad, has been asked to appear by month end. When asked, the ED officials refused to comment if Naik or his legal team had responded to the summons. The ED registered a PMLA case against Naik and IRF after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) started probing the preacher and its organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The ED took cognisance of a case registered by NIA, which began its investigation after the Union government banned IRF and Naik for alleged “extremist acts” under provisions of the UAPA.
Central crackdown
In November 2016, the Home Ministry issued a ban order against IRF and Naik subsequent to which Mumbai sealed its Dongri-based offices. Following this, the NIA registered a case against Naik and IRF and seized documents from its offices. They carried out searches at 10 offices and residential properties owned by Naik and IRF. The ED had on Friday also issued summons to Zakir Naik.
