Mumbai court issues fresh non-bailable warrant against Zakir Naik

Zakir Naik left India in 2016 and subsequently moved to Malaysia.

PETALING JAYA: A special court in Mumbai today issued a fresh non-bailable warrant (NBW) against fugitive preacher Zakir Naik, currently in Malaysia.

This is in connection with the 2016 alleged money laundering case, NDTV.com reported.

The Indian news portal said the warrant was issued by Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court judge PP Rajvaidya on a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the case.

It reported that Naik had moved a plea through his lawyer seeking two months to appear before the court. This was rejected. The Enforcement Directorate on Monday moved a fresh plea seeking the NBW.

The portal said the Enforcement Directorate had claimed to have identified 193.06 crore rupees (RM113.4 million) as the proceeds of crime in the 2016 case.

Naik, a 53-year-old radical television preacher, left India in 2016 and subsequently moved to Malaysia, where he was granted permanent resident status.

The Enforcement Directorate had booked him in 2016 on a report filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

The preacher is wanted for alleged money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches.

An NBW had earlier been issued against him in the money laundering case.

NDTV.com said in July this year, the court issued a summons against Naik after taking into account a complaint filed by the ED against Dubai-based jeweller Abdul Kadir Najmudin Sathak for allegedly assisting the preacher in raising and diverting funds.

ED had earlier attached Naik’s properties, including the Islamic International School in Chennai, 10 flats, three godowns, two buildings and land in Pune and Mumbai, besides bank accounts. - FMT