India court rejects Zakir Naik’s petition over unlawful activities probe

Bombay court says it cannot grant relief sought by Zakir Naik as he is not cooperating with police and has absconded from India.

Islamic preacher Zakir Naik is accused of inciting communal disharmony and committing unlawful activities. (Reuters pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Bombay High Court yesterday rejected the petition of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik to cancel the revocation of his passport and for the authorities to submit reports on the probe against him.

The court declined to grant the petition on the grounds that Naik had refused to cooperate with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and because he had fled the country.

A report in India’s DNA newspaper said justices RM Savant and Revati Mohite Dere heard the petition filed by Naik seeking an order directing the NIA and the ED to submit reports on the probe carried out against him.

Naik had also sought an order directing India’s ministry of external affairs to cancel the revocation of his passport.

Naik is accused of inciting communal disharmony and committing unlawful activities.

The court said it could not pass any order pertaining to the revocation of his passport, and asked Naik to file a separate petition on it, DNA reported.

“Regarding the other reliefs sought in the petition… we do not see how this court can consider them when the petitioner has not even presented himself before the probe agencies.

“The petitioner is ensconced in Malaysia and is seeking a direction to the agencies to submit probe reports,” the court said.

DNA reported the court as saying that no relief could be granted to an “absconding accused” who was not participating in the investigations or “showing any desire to help” the probe agencies.

Naik is accused of giving provocative speeches, which were cited as a reason by Bangladesh for an attack in Dhaka which left 22 people dead.

The NIA is also probing Naik’s NGO, Islamic Research Foundation, over allegations of money laundering.

Naik, who was given permanent residency status by the previous Barisan Nasional government, appears to have set up base in Putrajaya.

He was among hundreds of people who jostled to greet Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad after Friday prayers outside the Putrajaya mosque on June 8. -FMT