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| Zakir Naik who was to return to Mumbai from Saudi Arabia on Monday morning has cancelled his return, and in all likelihood would issue a clarification via video conferencing, said police sources |
Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, who was supposed to come back to Mumbai from Saudi Arabia on Monday morning, has cancelled his return and may issue a clarification through video conferencing, police sources said.
Naik has come under the scanner of the Indian government after reports emerged that two among a group of terrorists, who killed 22 people in a posh Dhaka café last week, were allegedly inspired by his speeches.
On Sunday, Bangladesh banned Naik’s controversial Peace TV , claiming it incited the recent attack on the Dhaka café.
However, there is no substantial evidence that suggests that Naik or his sermons indoctrinated, influenced or radicalised any of the youths wanted or arrested for terrorism.
His name first cropped in 2002-2003 amid a series of blasts in Mumbai and led Mumbai crime branch to Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) that Naik founded and serves as its president. Naik was questioned extensively but Mumbai Police could not gather any evidence that linked him to any act of terrorism.
“But since then Naik has been under continuous surveillance of the intelligence units and agencies,” a senior IPS officer who questioned Naik, said.
“There is little possibility that Naik would try to influence youths using a public platform like Peace TV. What is of question is, if Naik met any of the youth, who joined ISIS or any other terrorist organisation, behind closed doors,” he added.
It comes in the backdrop of claims from the parents of two brothers from Kerala, who converted to Islam, that they had travelled to Mumbai and met Naik on more than one occasion. The brothers are among 20 missing youth from the state who travelled to the Middle East, and are suspected of joining the Islamic State (IS).
Mumbai Police sources said that the special team constituted to probe Naik has gathered details about his properties, funding and other activities and is expected to question the preacher.
Apart from monitoring social networking websites, police officials led by former special director of the Intelligence Bureau and now Mumbai Police commissioner DD Padsalgikar are sifting through interrogation reports of various accused to see if any of them were influenced by Naik’s speeches, or had met him in person.
The Mumbai anti-terrorism squad (ATS) arrested one Feroze Deshmukh, who was allegedly involved in Aurangabad arms haul case and worked in the IRF’s library. Deshmukh is currently out on bail.
Soon after Deshmukh’s arrest another accused in the case, identified as Grant road resident Rahil, fled India and is said to have taken shelter in Bangladesh. Deshmukh and Rahil were in touch with each other before the arms haul.
A Malwani man, Ayaz Sultan, who slipped into Afghanistan and joined the IS, also worked with IRF.
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