New Delhi: The NIA on Saturday booked Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and his organisation Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) under anti-terror laws and for allegedly promoting enmity between groups on the basis of religion and race.
Sources said that after registering a case against the 51-year-old Naik, IRF and others, the NIA and the Mumbai Police carried out searches at 10 places in the city, including residential premises of some of the office-bearers of the foundation for receiving funds from abroad.
NIA finds ‘proof’ against Zakir Naik
The NIA’s action came barely four days after the Union government declared the IRF a banned organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Mr Naik — in Saudi Arabia right now — is evading arrest after his name surfaced during probe into the Bangladesh terror strike earlier this year.
He has been booked with unidentified IRF officials under Section 153-A of the IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) beside various sections of UAPA.
“The NIA sleuths recovered several incriminating documents during the searches on Saturday. Now the documents are being scrutinised,” sources said, adding that Rs 13.5 lakh and some gold have been seized from one of the locations.
The charges slapped in the FIR, registered by the NIA’s Mumbai branch, also included sections 10 (being member of an unlawful organisation), 13 (punishment for being member of illegal organisation) and 18 of UAPA (punishment for being involved in a conspiracy for committing any terror act).
