New Delhi : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday registered a case against controversial televangelist Zakir Naik and his NGO Islamic Research Organisation (IRF) on charges of money laundering.
The case has been registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED filed the case based on an FIR registered by NIA against Naik and other IRF members in November this year. The NIA also raided more than ten IRF premises and seized several documents, hard discs and CDs for examination.
ED officials said they will specifically look into the charges of alleged illegal funds laundered by the accused and the proceeds of crime in its probe.
The agency has already scanned some banking transaction documents and other details against Naik and IRF and is soon expected to issue summons to take the probe forward.
Naik’s NGO was banned by the Centre under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for disturbing communal harmony and attempting forced conversions. Naik too has been accused of promoting hate speech and radicalising youths.
The Islamic preacher has been out of the country since reports emerged that his sermons influenced some Bangladeshi men, who orchestrated the Dhaka cafe attack in which 28 people were killed.
Source : TOI
