A special court has issued a fresh non-bailable warrant against Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik in an alleged money laundering case.
According to PTI, the warrant was issued by Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court judge PP Rajvaidya on a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) which is probing the case. The ED has claimed to have identified Rs 193.06 crore as the proceeds of money laundering in the 2016 case.
53-year-old Naik, a television preacher, left India in 2016 and subsequently moved to the Malaysia, where he was granted a permanent residency.
Earlier, the agency had attached Naik's properties, including Islamic International School in Chennai, ten flats, three godowns, two buildings and land in Pune and Mumbai, besides bank accounts.
Indian government unsuccessfully made three attempts to get Interpol to issue a Red Notice for Dr Zakir Naik.
The Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files secretariat said Zakir is not subject to an Interpol Red Notice or diffusion. The decision was made during the 109th session of Interpol’s Commission, which took place from July 1 to 5.
“After a thorough examination of the elements before it, the commission found that the data challenged raised questions as to compliance with applicable rules,” it said in the letter issued on July 22, which was received by theSun through Zakir’s office in India.
Selangor Mufti Datuk Seri Mohd Tamyes Abd Wahid, talking to Malay Mail on 10th July 19, defended Dr Zakir Naik, claiming that the Muslim preacher was being victimised by people he deemed as “enemies of Islam, saying that "... these accusations are made by the enemies of Islam intended to bring down Muslim missionaries."
Last week, Naik had moved a plea through his lawyer seeking time for two months to appear before the court, which was rejected. The ED on Monday moved a fresh plea seeking the NBW.
