Day after ban, it was business as usual for Mumbai IRF office

People associated with the IRF said no agency has notified them on ban on any kind of activities

A day after televangelist Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) was banned by the Centre under provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), it was business as usual at the non-profit organisation’s office in Dongri. Also, people associated with the IRF said no agency has notified them on ban on any kind of activities.

Televangelist Zakir Naik’s IRF or anybody associated with it refused to come on record on the Centre’s action. (HT File Photo)

Sources from the IRF said they were not shut even when the enquiry was underway and were never included in the probe that was being conducted by Mumbai police and the central agencies.

“Since July when the enquiry started, IRF has always been functioning and was never asked to curtail any activities. There was no communication from any of the agencies who conducted the probe and we were only once sent a basic questionnaire asking for clarity on funding as per the provisions of the foreign currency (regulation) act,” said a person associated with the IRF.

“We can act only after the order reaches us stating what needs to be done,” he added.

IRF or anybody associated with it, however, refused to come on record on the Centre’s action against the non-profit organization.

The Mumbai police too, meanwhile, are awaiting the notification for clarity on action that needs to be initiated on the organisation. At a later stage, it is also likely that those associated with the IRF would be asked for their specific roles and to refrain from the organisation’s activities.

“The action would mostly resemble the one that was taken when ‘Peace TV’ channel was banned. Hence, those who are found to be associated with a banned entity, would be liable for a legal action,” said a police officer.