NIA set to summon Zakir Naik to India for questioning

After banning Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation for five years, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is all set to summon him this week for questioning. The agency filed an FIR against him on Friday under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Acts (UAPA). After the summons notice is issued, the controversial televangelist will find himself between a rock and a hard place as sources confirmed with this paper that he is most likely to be arrested when he appears for questioning. If he does not, the investigation agency could rope in the Interpol to ferry him back to the country.

A senior NIA official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “We have to question Zakir Naik for investigation purposes. A summons will be issued against him soon, ordering him to produce himself before the NIA.

“If he (Naik) fails to do so, we will move the court to declare him a proclaimed offender and that will allow us to attach his properties in Mumbai and elsewhere,“ he added.

Reliable sources have also told Mirror that if Naik fails to respond to the summons, they will seek Interpol's help to bring him back.

The NIA had registered a case against Naik and others under Sections 10 (Penalty for being a member of an unlawful association), 13 (Punishment for unlawful activities) other sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). According to a notification issued by the Centre on Thursday, there are five cases already registered against IRF in various states. The Centre cited Zaik's derogatory statements against Hindu gods and alleged praise for Osama bin Laden among the reasons for the ban on the NGO.Investigative agencies have also alleged that Peace TV, which is partly funded by the televangelist, is airing objectionable programmes.

Meanwhile, NIA officials continued their raids at the IRF premises in the city.

In the two days of searches at more than 10 premises of IRF, NIA has seized several documents, hard discs and CDs that are being examined. Naik did not come to India even after his father Dr

Abdul Kareem Naik

's death on October 30 in the city, anticipating action against him.

Meanwhile, Mubin Solkar, Naik's counsel, said, “We have not received the copy of the FIR yet. We will be able to comment on it only after we receive the copy.“ However, Solkar refused to divulge any details about Naik's present location.