NIA initiates process for attachment of Zakir Naik's property

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 28 (ANI): The process for attachment of Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) president Zakir Naik's property has been initiated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under Section 83 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Earlier on July 21, the NIA court passed an order to the effect that the requirements for publication of the proclamation against Naik have been complied with. The Delhi High Court had recused from hearing a plea by Naik to set aside judicial tribunal decision to ban the organisation under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The hearing continued before a different bench of the High Court on July 27. On November 17, 2016, the Union Home Ministry imposed an immediate ban on the organisation under UAPA, following which the Delhi High Court on March 20 dismissed IRF's plea on the ban. Following this, the organisation had said that actions done by individuals named in the FIRs -- Zakir Naik and Arshi Qureshi -- cannot reflect on the organisation and will affect the charitable and educational work being done by the IRF. The IRF also argued that the FIRs were based on speeches allegedly made by Zakir Naik years before the charges were raised. Naik had condemned the actions of terrorist organisations and said that the ISIS is un-Islamic. (ANI)