ED files charge sheet against Zakir Naik in Mumbai

The ED on Thursday filed its first direct charge sheet against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on charges of alleged money laundering.

In Photo: Zakir Naik lectures on the topic 'Is Islam a solution for humanity' duing an international conference organised by his organisation IRF in 2007, in Sion, Mumbai.

NEW DELHI: The ED on Thursday filed its first direct charge sheet against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on charges of alleged money laundering, officials said. The agency filed the prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a special court in Mumbai and said it has identified proceeds of crime worth Rs 193.06 crore. This is the second charge sheet in the case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in this case, but the first against Naik underlining his role in the matter. In November 2016, the NIA had registered a case against Naik -- who is currently living in Malaysia and has been granted permanent resident status there -- under the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The preacher came on the security agencies' radar after some terrorists, allegedly involved in the attack on a cafe in Dhaka in July 2016, reportedly claimed they were inspired by his speeches. On November 17, 2016, India declared Naik's Mumbai-based NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. (With inputs from agencies)