Aamir Razdar, a close aide of Dr. Zakir Naik — the president of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) — has been sent to judicial custody on Wednesday in a case of money laundering till March 8.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested Razdar on February 16 and he was sent to custody till February 22. He told the court on Wednesday that he is co-operating with the agency.
The IRF has been declared as an unlawful association by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The ED’s lawer, Hiten Venegaonkar, had submitted an application before the Prevention of Money Laundering Court on February 16, and on February 18, the National Investigation Agency had registered an FIR against Dr. Naik.
‘Religious enmity’
The FIR reveals that Dr. Naik and his associates were indulging in unlawful activities. It also states that Dr. Naik has been promoting religious enmity between religious groups in India through his inflammatory speeches. The ED’s application states that Dr. Naik’s speeches have incited a number of youths to commit unlawful and terrorist acts.
Dr. Naik has been booked for promoting enmity between different groups, and doing acts that are prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. He has also been booked under section 10 (Penalty for being member of an unlawful association), 13 (Punishment for unlawful activities) and 18 (Punishment for conspiracy) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
These sections of UAPA are also scheduled offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The application filed by ED states, “Apart from the IRF, Dr. Naik was also running various trusts in India and abroad, with his nominated/confidante trustees viz. Mohammed Abdul Karim Naik and Aamir Gazdar.”
The application also states that Mr. Gazdar is a director of atleast six companies, namely M/s Universal Broadcasting Corporation Ltd., and M/s Lords Production Inc. Ltd. in England; and four in Mumbai: M/s Harmony Media Pvt. Ltd., M/s Longlast Constructions Pvt. Ltd., M/s Majestic Perfumes Pvt. Ltd., and M/s Alpha Lubricants Pvt. Ltd.
The ED states investigations have revealed that Gazdar deals with marble contracts, like marble fixing projects trading of marbles locally. The company has a turnover of ₹25-₹30 lakhs per annum.
The ED said Gazdar has played an important role in acquiring and disposing of cash.
