New Delhi, May 2
The ED today filed its first direct chargesheet against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik on charges of laundering criminal money to the tune of Rs 193 crore and allegedly creating illegal real estate assets worth crores in India and abroad, officials said.
The agency filed the prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before a special court in Mumbai and said Naik’s “inflammatory speeches and lectures have inspired and incited a number of Muslim youths in India to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts”.
“His thoughts created disharmony amongst various faiths and created hatred amongst people following different faiths,” it said.
This is the second chargesheet in the case by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), but the first against Naik that specifically underlines his role.
The agency claimed its probe revealed that “most of the incriminating speeches of Naik were delivered during the 10-day Peace Conference organised by the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) in Mumbai during the period between 2007-2011”. The IRF is owned and promoted by Naik.
“The conference was planned, organised, funded and promoted by the IRF and people of other religions were openly converted into Islam by Naik,” it charged. The ED said a total amount of Rs 193.06 crore has been identified as proceeds of crime.
In the past, the agency has attached Naik’s properties, investments made in mutual funds, Islamic International School in Chennai, 10 flats, three godowns, two buildings and land in Pune and Mumbai, and 10 bank accounts. It said Naik also “made investments in Dubai where he is developing high-end bungalows”. — PTI
Assets linked to Hafiz attached
The ED on Thursday attached assets worth Rs 73.12 lakh in connection with a terror-financing and money-laundering case linked to global terrorist Hafiz Saeed, officials said. The assets belong to Mohd Salman and his family members, they said.
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2DKEsC5
via Today’s News Headlines
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