Zakir NGO funds from UK, S. Arabia
New Delhi: A preliminary probe into the foreign funding of the NGO run by controversial preacher Zakir Naik has found most of it came from the UK, Saudi Arabia and some West Asian countries and it allegedly received about 15 crore before 2012.
The home ministry is conducting a thorough examination of funds received by controversial preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO, Islamic Research Foundation.
According to ministry sources the main focus of the current probe is to ascertain whether the funds received by the NGO from abroad were used for the purpose they were meant for or diverted to other activities, including political and religious ones.
Officials claimed that the IRF, which is registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act ( FCRA), received foreign donations mainly from United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and some countries in the Middle East.
The NGO allegedly received ` 15 crore in foreign funding over a five year period prior to 2012. In addition, the Home Ministry is also examining the speeches of Zakir Naik to ascertain whether they instigated youth to join terror activities.
“We are conducting a detailed investigation into the funding pattern of IRF and also whether Zakir Naik tried to influence people into joining terror operations in any way. If the funds have been diverted for any activity other than for what they were originally meant for, then it is a clear violation of FCRA and action can be initiated. We will take a call on future course of action once the investigation is over,’’ a senior ministry official said.
The Mumbai police too is conducting a separate investigation against Zakir Naik and the activities of IRF following a directive from Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra
Officials claimed that the IRF, which is registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, received foreign donations mainly from the UK, Saudi Arabia and some countries in West Asia
Fadnavis. Zakir Naik’s role came to light when some of the terrorists involved in an attack on an upmarket café in Dhaka on July 1 claimed they were influenced by his speeches. The Islamic Preacher however, said in a statement, he “totally disagreed” that he inspired the killing in Dhaka.
“There is not a single talk of mine where I encouraged one to kill another, whether Muslim or non- Muslim,” he said.