The charge sheet filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday against Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, founder of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), says he deliberately and maliciously insulted the religious beliefs of Hindus, Christians and non-Wahabi Muslims.
The investigation has revealed that there are 19 immovable properties, including land and buildings, worth ₹104 crore, connected with Dr. Naik. The charge sheet, filed in the NIA court, will pave the way for agencies to procure a Red Corner Notice against Dr. Naik, who has been elusive and has refused to come to India to cooperate with investigating agencies.
The charge sheet mentions a speech given by Dr. Naik in September 2012 during the Ganapati festival, and another speech in Srinagar that was uploaded to his Facebook account by the IRF for public view.
The charge sheet says that nine speeches and/or utterings, in particular, were found to be inflammatory as they hurt the religious sentiments besides inciting violence. Dr. Naik, along with the IRF and Harmony Media Private Limited have been charged under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, andSection 10 (penalty for being member of an unlawful association) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
The charge sheet says investigations have established that Dr. Naik and his associates have been promoting enmity and hatred between different religious groups in India and initiating Muslim youth and terrorists in India and abroad to commit unlawful activities and terrorist acts. These activities are causing disaffection against the Government of India, are prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony amongst communities and likely to disturb tranquility, it adds.
The investigation establishes that incriminating public speeches have been in circulation through electronic media,and have been, and continue to be seen, across the world. The minutes of IRF’s Board of Trustees' meetings disclose that the IRF had approved, organised, promoted and funded public lectures of accused Zakir Naik, including his incriminating speeches, the charge sheet says. Seized material such as DVD and books list the IRF as the publisher.
The agency gives a clean chit to Nailah Naushad Noorani, sister of Zakir Naik, who was a trustee of the IRF Educational Trust along with him. When Zakir Naik became a Non Resident Indian in 2013, he appointed Ms. Noorani as the Director in Harmony Median as well as Longlast Constructions Company, in his place. But it was found that she was Director on paper only — all the affairs of companies were handled by her brother.
She signed the cheques on the instruction of her brother and had no knowledge of the company affairs. Furthermore, she had received ₹29 crore from Zakir Naik through her parents’ bank account between 2013 and 2016. This money was further invested into Harmony Media and Longlast Constructions company as per Zakir Naik’s instructions, the charge sheet says.
