Top officials leave Zakir Naik’s IRF

Many top officials of Dr Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) have reportedly put in their papers. Among the IRF staffers who have tendered their resignations include CEO Manzoor Shaikh. About six senior functionaries are also said to have handed over their resignations to an official identified as Shaukat Jamati on Thursday.
The Islamic preacher and televangelist’s NGO was banned two weeks ago by the government for five years. According to the cabinet, Naik led IRF as “an unlawful association.” The ban was followed by several raids conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on its several offices. During its raids, besides documents and electronic data, the NIA also seized the mobile phones of Shaikh and other members on the foundation’s board. A forensic test is also likely to be conducted on the phones to retrieve deleted data.
A team of IT experts from Delhi are helping the NIA officials in Mumbai with the forensic evaluation. The resignations of its top officials, say sources, will come as a huge setback to Naik, as they have reportedly cited the ban on the NGO as the reason for their leaving it.