A special court in Mumbai yesterday issued a fresh non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Zakir Naik in relation to a 2016 money laundering case against him.
India’s The Economic Times reported the warrant was issued against the controversial preacher by Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court judge PP Rajvaidya, after a plea was filed by the national agency Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The ED has claimed to identify up to 193.06 crore rupees (RM113.42 million) as criminal proceeds from the 2016 case.
Last week, Zakir moved a plea via his lawyer to seek up to two months’ time to appear before the court. The plea was rejected and on Monday the ED moved a fresh plea for a non-bailable warrant.
In the same year as the case, he was booked by the agency on a first information report filed by the National Investigation Agency under India’s Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Zakir, 53, last visited India in 2016, where he is wanted for money laundering and inciting extremism through hate speeches.
The fugitive Indian national is currently living in Malaysia, where he has permanent residency but was recently prohibited from public speaking due to remarks he made that were deemed offensive against the Indian and Chinese communities here.
NDTV.com said in July this year, the court issued a summons against Zakir after taking into account a complaint filed by the ED against Dubai-based jeweller Abdul Kadir Najmudin Sathak for allegedly assisting the preacher in raising and diverting funds.
ED had earlier attached Naik’s properties, including the Islamic International School in Chennai, 10 flats, three godowns, two buildings and land in Pune and Mumbai, besides bank accounts.