ED files money laundering charge sheet against Zakir Naik
Once the court takes cognisance of the charge sheet, the agency will file an application under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 to declare him as a fugitive economic offender, said the official asking not to be named.
The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday filed a charge sheet against controversial preacher Zakir Naik in a Mumbai court, saying it has identified proceeds of crime to the tune of ~193.06 crore that he has allegedly stashed in various cities in India and abroad including, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to an official familiar with the probe.
Once the court takes cognisance of the charge sheet, the agency will file an application under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 to declare him as a fugitive economic offender, said the official asking not to be named.
This is the first charge sheet filed against Naik (54) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which could provide a fillip to India’s efforts to get him extradited from Malaysia where he is currently residing.
Another ED official said the charge sheet will be shared with the Interpol as a “red notice” against Naik is currently under consideration in the international police body.
Naik is under investigation for allegedly promoting enmity between different religious communities, giving hate speeches, money laundering and inciting Muslim youth to commit terror acts. Currently residing in Malaysia, Naik fled from India in July 2016.
“We have identified proceeds of crime worth ~ 193.06 crore out of which Naik’s properties worth ~50.46 crore so far has been attached including investments in mutual funds, Islamic International School in Chennai, 10 flats, three godowns, two commercial buildings and land in Pune and Mumbai apart from 10 bank accounts,” said the first official. “Further, Naik has also made investments in Dubai wherein he is developing high-end bungalows. There are also properties related to several dummy companies/entities linked to Zakir Naik identified in the UK, which have been identified and attached,” said the second ED officer. The ED’s money laundering probe is based on an anti-terror probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Naik.
The NIA has already filed a charge sheet against him in 2017 and has sent an extradition request to Malaysia.
It has been alleged that Naik used to deliver hate speeches at events organized by his Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), which was banned by the home ministry last month. He is allegedly involved in a few cases of religious conversion as well.
The ED has claimed that IRF received Rs 64.86 crore between 2003 and 2017, mostly from dubious sources. Subsequently, he received money through donations which he used in building a school in Chennai, the agency said. He also allegedly invested ~ 9.41 crore in mutual funds.
The Enforcement Directorate has alleged, Naik received Rs 49.20 crore from 2012 to 2016 from accounts maintained in the UAE. The source of income in these accounts is not known, it added.“Using the funds from the United Arab Emirates, he purchased several properties in Mumbai and Pune...in the name of his close relatives,” said the second ED official.
Naik also established several companies in the UK and India by appointing his close aides and relatives as their directors, according to the ED. Naik’s spokesperson did not respond to calls and messages from HT.