Zakir Naik is said to have acquired citizenship of Saudi Arabia but this has not been confirmed yet.
Highlights
- Naik to be charged for alleged role in terror funding, money laundering
- He fled India in 2016 amid accusation of inspiring Bangladesh terrorists
- Naik has reportedly acquired citizenship of Saudi Arabia
Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik will be chargesheeted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) this week for his alleged role in terror funding and money laundering cases in the country, officials said.
The formalities to file the chargesheet against Mr Naik, who left the country in July last year, have been completed and it will be submitted before a special court this week, they said.
The 51-year-old televangelist, who is currently abroad, is being probed under terror and money-laundering charges by the NIA. He fled from India on July 1, 2016, after terrorists in neighbouring Bangladesh claimed that they were inspired by his speeches.
The NIA had on November 18, 2016, registered a case against Mr Naik at its Mumbai branch under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His Mumbai-based NGO, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), has already been declared an unlawful association by the Union Home Ministry.
Mr Naik is said to have acquired citizenship of Saudi Arabia but this has not been confirmed yet.
The controversial preacher has been accused of spreading hatred by his provocative speeches, funding terrorists and laundering several crores of rupees over the years.
Mr Naik has repeatedly denied all the charges.
The Interpol was approached against Mr Naik after a year-long probe during which the NIA gathered evidence on his IRF and Peace TV being used to allegedly promote hatred between different religious groups.
Besides banning his NGO, the central government has taken his TV channel off air.
The passport of Mr Naik was also been revoked by the Ministry of External Affairs at the request of the NIA earlier this year.
The NIA had thrice issued notices to Mr Naik, asking him to join the investigation, but he did not appear before it.
The Mumbai-based preacher came under the lens of security agencies after some terrorists allegedly involved in the attack on a cafe in Dhaka in July last year reportedly claimed they were inspired by his speeches.