Zakir Naik’s IRF trained youth, who eventually joined Islamic State: NIA

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday said it will move to revoke the Indian passport of controversial Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) President Dr Zakir Naik, who is wanted in a criminal case.

As per reports in The Indian Express, the NIA interrogated Naik’s sister and aide, and are also tracking his web of financial transactions that include 10 companies and 19 properties in Mumbai and Pune.

A case had been registered against Naik in November 2016 under Sections 153A of Indian Penal Code and Sections 10, 13 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. IRF has already been declared as an Unlawful Association by Government of India as per a notification dated November 17, 2016.

Naik left India on May 13, 2016, and has not returned since. Sources believe that Naik is in Malaysia and has obtained a Malay citizenship.

As per the Indian Express Report, NIA claims that Abu Anas, an accused charge-sheeted in the “ISIS conspiracy case” registered by NIA in 2015, received a scholarship from Naik’s IRF for three consecutive years from 2013 to 2015. Sources say that Hyderabad-based Abu Anas was alleged to be part of a conspiracy linked to an ISIS-affiliated group, Junood-ul-Khalifa-fil-Hind. The chargesheet in …read more