NBW issued against Zakir Naik in money laundering case

Mumbai: A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court Wednesday issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against controversial Islamic preacher and televangelist Dr Zakir Naik, after he failed to appear before the court despite issuance of summons asking him to do so.

The ED is probing allegations of money laundering levelled against him in 2016. Dr Naik, who is currently based in Malaysia, earlier this month through his lawyer requested the court to grant him two months’ time to comply with the court summons asking him to appear before the court. However, special PMLA court Judge P.P. Rajvaidya rejected his plea. The Judge, in his order dated September 13, observed that no reason had been mentioned in the application for the prayer for grant of time. “I hold that the application is liable to be rejected,” the Judge said.

Following rejection of Mr Naik’s plea, special public prosecutor Sanjana Sharma requested the court to issue a NBW against him. The court Wednesday allowed this plea and issued a NBW against Dr Naik. Dr Naik left India in 2016 and subsequently moved to Malaysia, where he was granted permanent residency.

The ED claimed to have identified `193.06 crore as proceeds of the crime in the 2016 case. The agency stated that Dr Naik utilised this money for the purchase of properties in Pune and Mumbai by “layering of funds” and in the name of his close relatives. He also transferred the amount into bank accounts of his company Harmony Media, which is directly controlled by him and his directors, after layering it through the accounts of his close relatives.