Zakir Naik in Saudi Arabia, puts off return

Mumbai: Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who was expected to return from Saudi Arabia on Monday, said he would be abroad for another 2-3 weeks and was ready to cooperate with any Indian agency investigating allegations against him.

Mr Naik, facing allegations of inspiring terrorism through his provocative speeches, also cancelled his scheduled press conference via Skype on Tuesday and suggested that he has become a victim of media trial. In a statement, he said no Indian government agency has so far contacted him over the allegations against him. He, however, accused the media of “twisting and not publishing unedited statements and mutilating statements to serve their vested agenda”.