Zakir’s aide Aamir seeks leniency during Ramzan
Controversial preacher Dr. Zakir Naik’s close associate Aamir Gazdar on Thursday filed a plea in the Special Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) court, through his lawyers, asking for leverage during praying month of Ramzan. The fasting month may start from this weekend.
Gazdar was arrested on February 16 this year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its probe in a money laundering case against him and others, including Naik, who heads and founded The Islamic Reserach Foundation (IRF). The court had already issued a Non-Bailable Warrant against Zakir and The ED is in the process of extraditing Naik.
“During the holy month of Ramzan, Gazdar is fasting and has asked for home food and analogue clock to keep time during Ramzan,” Gazdar’s lawyer Tariq Sayyad said, adding, “In the holy month, fasting time cycle followed is totally different than the regular one. That is why Gazdar has asked for the clock.”
The ED is likely to file its reply on May 29.
According to ED, Naik was at the helm of affairs completely controlling the banned IRF. Naik had also formed dummy companies in India and abroad. Gazdar was director in six such companies. These companies are – Universal Broadcasting Corporation, Lords Production (both in England), Harmony Media, Longlast Constructions, Majestic Perfumes and Alpha Lubricants (all in Mumbai).
While seeking Gazdar’s remand, the agency had claimed before the court that investigations revealed that huge amounts of cash transactions concealing trails of its origin and utilization were allegedly conducted by Naik and Gazdar.