Naik aide handled crores in cash, had shares in media firm

ED complaint claims Aamir Gazdar signed on blank cheques, agreements at Naik’s behest

Aamir Gazdar (right) after his arrest on Thursday. File Photo

Mumbai: Aamir Gazdar, a close confidante of controversial Islamic preacher Dr. Zakir Abdul Karim Naik, handled crores in unaccounted cash for the latter and owned shares in a media company that produced his speeches, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed in a complaint filed on April 5.

The voluminous complaint, a copy of which is available with The Hindu, says Mr. Gazdar’s primary business was marble supply and trade, and had an annual turnover of ₹20 lakh to ₹30 lakh. However, he was using a BMW car worth ₹25 lakh, the money for which was provided by Dr. Naik.

According to the ED, Mr. Gazdar told them he was handling over ₹5 crore in cash for Dr. Naik during a short span of six to eight months. He and other employees of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) have admitted to the facts but have refused to divulge the source of the money, and how it was used, said the complaint.

Mr. Gazdar was arrested on February 16 by the ED and is in judicial custody. The investigating agency says he has claimed not being paid a salary as director of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, and currently holds only 5% shares, while Dr. Naik’s sister Nailah Noorani holds 95%. He said he had paid ₹50,000 for the shares.

The statement recorded how they met in 2003. Mr. Gazdar was at the Islam International School, Dongri for his son’s admission, where he met Dr. Naik. On his request, Mr. Gazdar became a director of Harmony Media Pvt. Ltd, which produced and exported speeches by Dr. Naik to Global Broadcasting Corporation FZ LLC, Dubai, for telecast on the Peace TV channel.

Dr. Naik would also take Mr Gazdar’s signatures on cheques and agreements and keep it with him. He also said Dr. Naik had asked him to give him his signed resignation letter, and had asked him to be a trustee of IRF in 2007-08. He accordingly signed the required papers without visiting the office, Mr Gazdar said.

The ED also recorded the statement of Ismail Patni, the accounts manager who joined IRF in 2009. The statement said the final call on any amount to be accepted or disbursed was taken by Dr. Naik, who had transferred funds amounting to Rs 48.72 crore as gifts and loans between 2012-13 and 2016-17. Mr. Patni said he is unaware of the money’s source.