Solicitor General's note spells trouble for Zakir Naik

New Delhi, August 30: The controversial Islamic Clergy Zakir Naik may land in trouble as the Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar in his 16-page letter written to Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) termed his preaching and propaganda as communal and against India's pluralistic ethos.

Solicitor General's letter told MHA that Naik's ideology was divisive and against India's pluralistic and secular and social fabric. As per sources, the letter recommends action against the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) preacher under anti-terror law.

IRF may face legal action

Naik, a Mumbai-based tele-evangelist, who also runs Peace TV, has been under scanner of various investigative agencies after one of the attackers involved in the Dhaka terror strike posted that he had been influenced by the preacher. Naik may soon be booked under the stringent anti-terror law and IRF may face legal action.

Sources said the home ministry had sought a legal opinion on the possible action to be taken against Naik for his controversial activities, including alleged hate speeches.

Naik's statements promoted religious hatred

The legal opinion is understood to have conveyed to the home ministry that Naik's statements in different forums allegedly promoted enmity and hatred between religious groups and inspired and incited terrorists.

The legal opinion suggested that there is a “conscious intention” on Naik's part towards spreading enmity among religious groups. Apart from Naik, cases should be registered against IRF, which allegedly funded radical activities, the legal advice said to have suggested.

FCRA violation by IRF

Naik has come under the scanner of Intelligence Bureau (IB), National Investigation Agency (NIA) and MHA. While a crack team of NIA scanned thousand hours of tapes of his speeches made and recently submitted the report. The IB also had prepared a similar note. Meanwhile, the Foreigners Division of the home ministry, is looking into FCRA violation by IRF.

In the past as well, IRF was under scanner but no action was recommended. So far, investigative agencies have not found any major violation. But recommendations by Ranjit Kumar could spell trouble for religious preacher. In all probability it means NIA, which investigates terror related cases, could be investigating the case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Naik was first named by one of the attackers of the July 1 terror strike in Dhaka. Rohan Imtiaz had mentioned on social network that he was inspired by the Indian preacher. Islamic State operative Areeb Majid had mentioned Naik as a factor influencing him. Meanwhile, an ISIS suspect from Hyderabad admitted that he had attended Naik's camp in Mumbai a few years ago.