Enforcement Directorate questions Zakir Naik’s sister in Mumbai

Nailah Noorani however, claimed that she did not know anything about the shares and was only following Zakir’s instructions.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday questioned the sister of televangelist Zakir Naik against whom the agency had registered a money laundering case.

A case was filed against televangelist Zakir Naik in a money laundering case (HT file photo)

Nailah Noorani — who was summoned by the agency — reached the ED office on Tuesday afternoon. ED sources said that Naik’s confidante, Aamir Gazdar, is a 10% shareholder in Longlast Construction — the firm used to buy properties in the country. Noorani owns the rest of the shares.

She, however, claimed that she did not know anything about the shares and was only following Zakir’s instructions.

Meanwhile, Naik again failed to appear before ED. The directorate had summoned Naik to appear on Monday along with certain documents. Replying to the summons through his lawyer Mahesh Mule, Naik said that he is ready to assist the agency in all possible way and would require 15 more days to submit all the documents sought by the agency for their probe. The agency has also summoned Naik’s elder brother Mohammed for further investigation in the case.

After a ban on the foundation, the NIA had registered a case against Naik and the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) on charges of inciting Muslim youth to indulge in violence and promoting enmity between groups on the basis of religion and race. The FIR had accused him of giving speeches that spread communal harmony. The agency also charged Naik with indulging in activities that are prejudicial to national integration. After money-laundering allegations, the ED too launched a probe and registered a case in which Gazdar was arrested.