Dr Zakir Naik refutes ED’s ‘no-income’ charge

Mumbai: Controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik has issued a statement rebutting the claim of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that he had moved crores of rupees into his bank account despite lacking any source of income. Naik has claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is lying and all government agencies know that he has multiple businesses and revenue streams and his earnings were reflected in his tax returns.

“Why is ED lying? When everyone — including all the government agencies — know that I have multiple businesses and revenue streams and my earnings have always reflected in the tax returns I’ve filed, why is ED lying about it? Is the pressure so huge that they need to lie to achieve the goal set out by their political bosses? For once, can they start showing some spine and be truthful in treating my case?” read the statement issued on behalf of Dr Naik.

It further stated, “I’ve filed my tax returns dutifully every year till 2016 and the ED has access to all my tax papers. The papers clearly show that I have multiple businesses and revenue streams.”

“I’m an NRI since 2010, living and earning outside India for nine years now. I earn over a crore a month, and I send money back to India as and when required. I sent it from my Dubai account to my India account, and every penny is then accounted for in my tax returns, the papers for which are with the Indian agencies,” read the statement.

He has confirmed that, “Between 2010 and 2016 — in the six year period — I must have sent Rs 49 crore to India.”

He, however, asked, “How is sending 65 lakh per month a problem? For a country that receives more than Rs 6,000 crore every month from UAE-based Indians, how is my Rs 65 lakh a problem?”

“By law, I’m not supposed to explain my overseas job or business to anyone in India, till the time I’m using legitimate channels and account for every penny I send to India. So it’s totally puzzling when the ED says I’ve not been earning anything. How on earth can they even think that? From where does ED get these ideas? Of course I earn. I have had multiple businesses — legitimate businesses — including real estate,” he stated.