IRF head Zakir Naik’s sister says she acted as a front for his companies

In her statement, Noorani said she has been associated with five companies formed by Naik – Harmony Media Ltd, Long Last Construction Pvt Ltd, Magestic Perfumes Pvt Ltd, Right Properties Pvt Ltd and Alpha Lubricants.

In her statement to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Zakir Naik’s sister Nailah Noorani said that she acted as front for companies established by her brother after 2013.

The ED claimed that Naik and his wife Farhat had the majority of shares in these companies, which they transferred to Noorani in 2013 after they became non-resident Indians (NRI). (HT file photo)

Noorani’s statement, recorded on March 7, is part of the charge sheet filed by the ED against Amir Gazdar – a close confidante of Naik and an employee of Harmony Media Ltd – in connection with the money laundering case. The agency alleges that the two helped the controversial televangelist launder money.

In her statement, Noorani said she has been associated with five companies formed by Naik – Harmony Media Ltd, Long Last Construction Pvt Ltd, Magestic Perfumes Pvt Ltd, Right Properties Pvt Ltd and Alpha Lubricants.

The ED claimed that Naik and his wife Farhat had the majority of shares in these companies, which they transferred to Noorani in 2013 after they became non-resident Indians (NRI). Since 2013, Noorani has held 95% of shares in Harmony Media and Long Last Construction. She also holds 50% of shares in Majestic Perfumes and Alpha Lubricants, while the remaining 50% are with Gazdar, the ED said.

Noorani said in her statement that she was appointed director of these companies and agreed to sign documents and cheques on the instructions of Naik. She added that she acted as a front for the companies and would sign papers and cheques sent by Naik.

An excerpt from her statement read, “Since last few years Zakir being very busy, I did not have much communication with him. He would send message on mobile for issuing cheques and when Zakir would be in Mumbai, he would send a chit with noting as to how many cheques to be issued and so on.”

Noorani said that she had received Rs15.06 crore as a loan from father’s account and Rs14.02 crore as a loan from mother’s account between 2013 and 2016. “Naik instructed me that such money would be transferred to my account and I was signing cheques without knowing the transactions. After checking the accounts I have noticed that the amount of Rs 14 crore was given to Longlast Constructions as loan and amount of Rs 14.7 crore was given to Harmony Media as loan,” read Noorani’s statement. She added that she was neither aware of the purpose of these transfers nor how the funds were utilised.