Aamir Gazdar who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in February has told the agency that he gave controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik a friendly loan of ₹90 lakhs as he was a respectable person.
According to Mr. Gazdar’s statement to the agency, he had heard of Dr Zakir Abdul Karim Naik and had met him in 2003 seeking admission for his son in the Islamic International School at Dongri, which was granted after two interviews. He was interviewed by Mr Naik’s sister Nailah and her brother Naushad Noorani.
In the complaint filed by the ED which The Hindu has seen, Mr. Gazdar reportedly said, “Dr. Naik once requested me to become a Director at M/s Harmony Media Pvt Ltd that engaged in production of videos of provocative speeches made by Dr Naik to which he agreed and paid ₹40,000 for formation of the company and gave a friendly loan of ₹90 lakh and 5,000 in 2005-06 to start the unit.”
