Controversial preacher-cum-televangelist Dr Zakir Naik, who is under scanner in India, is not likely to visit India this year.
Controversial preacher-cum-televangelist Dr Zakir Naik, who is under scanner in India, is not likely to visit India this year. His lawyer, advocate Mubin Solkar told The Asian Age that as per Dr Naik’s schedule that was fixed long back, he will be visiting different countries and lecturing, but is expected to return to India only next year. Mr Solkar also said that his client has no reason to avoid coming to India as there is no case registered against him. The Maharashtra government, however, claimed that there was actionable evidence against Dr Naik, and he could be arrested the moment he puts his foot in India.
Advocate Solkar told this newspaper, “It is not true that Dr Naik used to visit India frequently or every two months in the past and he has stopped coming only after the recent investigation against him. He is an NRI and to maintain that status, he is required to stay out of India for a fixed period of time. Hence, even in the past, he used to come to India occasionally.” Advocate Solkar added that till date, no case had been registered against Dr Naik and neither had any court or investigating agency issued summons to him and hence, there was no need for him to change his schedule and return to India. The lawyer also said that for the past 15 years now, Dr Naik had been visiting Saudi Arabia with his family during Ramzan, and this year too, the visit was already fixed earlier.
On the other hand, the state government claimed that there was enough evidence against Dr Naik to arrest him. A report prepared by state intelligence had evidence about the preacher’s financial support, institutes started by him, and their functioning. The state was going to recommend to the Centre to arrest Dr Naik based on this body of evidence. However, the final call on the action to be taken against him will be taken by the Centre.
Dr Naik’s role came to light when some of the terrorists involved in the July 1 attack on café in Dhaka claimed that they were influenced by his speeches. However, a senior official from the home department told this newspaper, “There is no new case registered against him. But a few cases already registered against him are sufficient to arrest Dr Naik. Two of them are registered in Sindhudurg district in the Konkan region.” The state government will recommend that the Centre arrest Dr Naik. “It depends on the home ministry to take further action against him. He is in another country and legal action will depend on international relations,” the official added. The 71 page-report prepared by state intelligence will soon be sent to the Centre.
