Mumbai police submit report to Maha govt on Zakir Naik
MUMBAI: The Mumbai police probing the alleged provocative speeches of Islamic televangelist Zakir Naik, who is also under the scanner of various Central agencies, has submitted its report to Maharashtra Home department, an official said on Tuesday.
MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday that controversial preacher and Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) founder Zakir Naik has been indicted in the Mumbai police report for his activities and there are observations about his links with terrorist outfits such as Indian Mujahideen and Jamat-ud-Dawa.
Fadnavis said the state government is studying the report and contents would soon be shared with the Ministry of home affairs to decide next course of action.
The state government received the report from the Mumbai police commissioner on Monday. Fadnavis said it was found that the IRF was involved in many illegal and anti-national activities pertaining to terrorism. “The report has highlighted the relationship between Naik and Feroz Deshmukh, arrested by Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) for involvement in serial railway blasts (about a decade ago). He is also found to be related to terrorist activities in Hyderabad,” Fadnavis said while addressing media.
“The report has established weblinks between the terrorist organisations and Naik besides the contacts between him and the accused arrested in Hyderabad. Information given by a Kalyan youth who had gone missing to join ISIS has also established the Naik’s links with the terrorist activities,” the CM added.
Fadnavis further said that comments by Naik against other are also found to be objectionable.
State government had directed Mumbai police commissioner to probe allegations that two of the six terrorists in Dhaka terror attack on July 1 had drawn inspiration from Naik’s sermons.
The chief minister said many findings in the report come under the domain of the central government and hence the contents will be shared with the Centre to decide on further course of action. “The report has few annexure attached proving illegal activities pertaining to terrorism. It has also pointed at the ban on Peace TV and his organisation by several countries. In its conclusions, the report has recommended the laws under which Naik can be booked.”
Fadnavis said the decision about banning the IRF would be taken by the state after studying the report.