HC dismisses Zakir Naik’s petition challenging NBW

ALLAHABAD : The Allahabad high court on Wednesday dismissed a petition filed by Islamic preacher Zakir Naik challenging the 2010 order of a local court in Jhansi, which summoned him on several charges, including waging war against the state, and the subsequent order of a non-bailable warrant against him.

The interim order earlier granted in his favour now stands vacated with the dismissal of the petition. Justice Amar Singh Chauhan had reserved the judgement on March 28, 2018, on the petition filed by Naik, president of Islamic Research Foundation. A person called Mudassir Ullah Khan had filed a complaint on Jan 9, 2008, before the CJM X in Jhansi alleging that Naik had allegedly hurt religious sentiments of a particular community in a TV programme telecast on January 21, 2006. Khan said Naik had published and distributed a pamphlet to incite hatred and ill will among different communities. The judicial magistrate summoned Naik on April 30, 2010, before the court for waging war against the state and other sections of IPC and issued an NBW against him. A person can be punished with death or life imprisonment for waging a war against the government of India or attempting to wage such war or abetting it.

Naik’s plea was that he is president of an organisation that clarifies Islamic viewpoints and clears misconceptions about Islam and the allegations against him were baseless.

TheHC had on June 6, 2011, directed that till the next date of listing no coercive action should be taken against Naik following the April 30, 2010, order by the judicial magistrate. And, the Bombay HC on Monday refused to restore his passport, saying no relief can be granted to a proclaimed offender absconding from India. The court adjourned the petition by two weeks on his lawyer’s request.