Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre in the Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned if a petition filed by a fugitive like Zakir Naik is maintainable.
The plea moved by the controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in the Supreme Court sought clubbing of FIRs filed in different states over his statements during the Ganapati festival in 2012.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Augustine George Masih heard the plea.
At the outset, SG Mehta asked how a person who was declared a fugitive, file a plea under Article 32 of the Constitution. He further informed the top court that he was told by Naik's advocate that they are withdrawing the matter and that's why they did not file a counter.
However, the lawyer representing Zakir Naik said he hadn't received any such instruction to withdraw the matter and the plea sought clubbing of about 43 cases registered across states.
The court was further informed that there are six FIRs pending against Naik and he would move the high court for quashing of the same.
The Supreme Court then directed Naik's lawyer to file an affidavit stating whether he would pursue the case or withdraw it while asking Mehta to file a reply in the matter.
Zakir Naik is being probed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for alleged terror activities. He had fled India, in the wake of July 1, 2016 bombing at a cafe in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Atleast 20 people were killed in the blast in Dhaka. One of the bombers had reportedly claimed to have been inspired by Naik’s speeches.
Naik is accused of allegedly spreading hatred among different communities through his Peace TV and social media networks.
Reportedly Naik is living in Malaysia at the moment and has denied his role in any of these incidents. The matter will be next taken up on October 23.