NIA swoops down on televangelist Zakir Naik’s IRF

The National Investigation Agency early raided multiple locations connected to controversial NRI preacher and televangelist Zakir Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation, official sources said.

The early morning operation started around 5 a.m. coming a day after the NIA lodged a case against Naik and his IRF under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Naik and the IRF were under scanner of the Indian agencies for the past four months for alleged misdeeds, spreading or promoting communal disharmony, feelings of enmity between communities and inspiring or supporting terror acts.

Teams of the NIA sleuths, accompanied by Mumbai Police started the raids at eight-to-ten locations across the city owned or connected with the IRF, including its headquarters in the congested Dongri area of south Mumbai.

The NIA, that took over the case from Mumbai Police in mid-October, were continuing with the raids and searches at noon on Saturday but details were not available.

Naik is currently out of the country. He has not been here in the past few months and had not come to attend even the funeral of his father Abdul K. Naik, who died on October 30 here.

The IRF shot into limelight following allegations that Naik’s teachings and preachings had inspired terror strikes.