Photo Credit: India Times
A special NIA court in Mumbai issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) on Thursday against controversial televangelist Zakir Naik, who is wanted in connection with his role in a terror case.
The warrant was issued following the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) submission before the court that Naik had failed to respond to three summons in cases filed under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against him last year.
The NBW will enable the NIA to seek the help of Interpol in bringing Naik back to India.
Only last week, the Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act Court had issued an NBW against the controversial preacher in a money-laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate, after he failed to appear before it.
The NIA had filed a case against Naik and other members of his Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) after the Dhaka bomb blasts in July last year. Intelligence agencies in Bangladesh had alleged that some of the youth responsible for the blasts were inspired by Naik’s teaching.
In recent months, the Union Home Ministry has cancelled the FCRA registration of IRF and Naik’s educational trust, barring the organizations from receiving any foreign funds.