ED seeks fresh NBW against Dr Zakir Naik

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Monday moved an application before the special PMLA court, seeking a fresh non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Dr Zakir Naik. The ED filed the application as the court last week refused to grant two months’ time to Dr Naik to comply with the summons issued by it, asking him to appear before it.

Special public prosecutor Sanjana Sharma moved the application before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Judge Prashant Rajvaidya, seeking issuance of a fresh NBW against televangelist Dr Naik on grounds that he had failed to appear before the court despite the latter issuing summons to that effect.  

The application was made in the backdrop of last week’s rejection of Dr Naik’s application seeking two months’ time to comply with the summons issued by the court asking him to appear before it. On September 13, advocate Taraq Sayed, on behalf of Dr Naik, moved an application before the court seeking two months’ time for Dr Naik to appear before the court. However, public prosecutor Sharma opposed the plea, contending that the accused was only buying time and had no intention of appearing before the court as a NBW had already been issued against him in another case as well.

After hearing the arguments, the Judge rejected the plea filed on behalf of Dr Naik. Following this, the prosecution requested the court to issue a fresh NBW against Dr Naik but the court asked the agency to file a written application for the same and the ED complied Monday. The ED has filed a criminal case against Dr Naik for allegedly laundering illegal funds received by him from foreign countries as well as India.

The ED case is based on the case registered by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The ED is looking into the charges of illegal funds laundered by the accused in the case and the subsequent proceeds of the crime to the tune of Rs 193 crore.