No red corner notice against Zakir Naik, says Interpol
The notice is to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition.
The International Criminal Police Organization on Saturday said it had not issued a red corner notice against Islamic televangelist Zakir Naik. The notice is intended to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition.
Reports said that the Interpol, in a letter, stated that India had not filed formal charges against Naik, because of which it felt the request for a notice against him was premature. India’s National Investigation Agency had filed a chargesheet against Naik for inciting the youth to take up terror activities and for hate speech only on October 26.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had banned Naik and his Islamic Research Foundation The NIA said that Indian youth were highly influenced by his speeches. A special tribunal had said that the IRF “was involved in activities which not only incite and encourage the youth to under take the unlawful activities with and intent to threaten the sovereignty, unity, integrity and security of India”.
A National Investigation Agency court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Naik on April 20. On April 13, a special court in Mumbai had issued an open-dated, non-bailable warrant against Naik in connection with a case of money laundering registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate. The central agency had moved court saying that Naik had failed to show up despite repeated summons.
The televangelist has been on the government’s radar since allegations arose that he had inspired one of the terrorists behind the Dhaka restaurant attack on July 1, 2016. He was also accused of meeting two brothers from Kerala who were among those who went missing in West Asia and were feared to have joined the Islamic State.