The Mumbai police probing the alleged provocative speeches of Islamic televangelist Zakir Naik, who is under the scanner of various Central agencies as well, has submitted its report to Maharashtra Home department, a senior official said on Tuesday.
The report will now be vetted by the Home department and sent to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for further action, Principal Secretary (Home) Vijay Satbir Singh said.
The Mumbai police was asked to probe Naik’s past speeches available online, to see if any of them could have inspired youths to join terrorist organisations, amid reports that his preachings inspired some of those involved in Dhaka terror strike.
The city police was also conducting a joint inquiry (with other probe agencies) into the functioning of Naik’s Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), to scrutinise the finances it has received from various parts of the world.
Naik, who is now abroad, has been facing heat over allegations of inspiring some of the Dhaka attackers through his speeches.
There were media reports that “provocative” speeches had inspired some of the terrorists who carried out Bangladesh’s worst terror attack at a cafe in Dhaka that left 22 people dead on July 1.
Naik had a lengthy interaction with Indian media via Skype from Saudi Arabia on July 15, rubbishing the charge that his sermons had inspired terror activity, including the Dhaka attack.
He has ruled out returning to India this year and claimed his remarks were “blown out of context” and that he has never inspired any terror activity.
Stating that he is a “messenger of peace”, Naik had also accused Indian media of running a trial against him by hyping on unverified reports and doctored clippings and statements being shown out of context.
Meanwhile, the city police yesterday registered a case against an IRF employee and three others, including two arrested earlier by Kerala police in connection with alleged ISIS recruitment case in the southern state.
They have been booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and IPC section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), a senior police official said.
Sourced from PTI, Featured image courtesy: www.indiatimes.com
