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India's investigation body calls Zakir Naik for questioning
Published:  Mar 9, 2017 12:08 PM
Updated: 8:07 AM

India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) has issued a notice summoning preacher Zakir Naik for questioning, the Hindustan Times reported.

This comes after a group of 19 activists and elected representatives last month filed a lawsuit at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to compel the government to arrest and deport Zakir if he is in Malaysia.

The NIA notice was received by the Indian national preacher's brother, as Zakir has been out of the country since a probe commenced against him over allegations that he may have influenced the terrorist attack at an eatery in Dhaka last year, the daily reported.

The preacher and his organisation, the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), are being probed for inciting Muslim youths to indulge in violence and promoting enmity between communities on the basis of religion and race, the daily said.

The NIA registered a first information report (FIR) after Zakir's IRF was banned under the country's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, it reported. A FIR is a complaint of an offence.

In the FIR, the preacher was accused of giving speeches that spread communal discord.

There is also a separate money-laundering investigation against Zakir, where his sister Nailah Noorani was questioned under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act last week, the daily said.

Bangladesh has banned Zakir's Peace TV satellite television channel following the Dhaka attack, which killed 22 people.

Zakir has given talks in Malaysia since the Dhaka incident, including in Perlis, where Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin had vouched for the preacher's character.

Last November, Deputy Home Minister Nur Jazlan Mohamed denied claims Zakir is now a Malaysian citizen, but said there has been an application for permanent residence.

He was responding to a Hindustan Times report quoting an official of Zakir's IRF claiming that the preacher is now a Malaysian citizen.

The official claimed the citizenship was offered after Zakir was named Tokoh Maal Hijrah in 2013.

His talk on comparative religions in Kuala Lumpur was last year barred by police fearing that it could instigate religious discord.

Many of his talks feature Zakir - who is lauded by his supporters as an expert in comparing religious scriptures - inspiring members of his audience to embrace Islam.

Muslim groups have accused those who have filed the lawsuit seeking Zakir's deportation from Malaysia of sedition.

Zakir has repeatedly denied that he supports terrorism.

Your KiniGuide to Muslim scholar Zakir Naik

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