MUMBAI: The hearing on Enforcement Directorate (ED) plea seeking permission to attach some properties of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik in Malaysia was adjourned for a week by the special court here.
Talking to mediapersons, special ED Counsel Hiten Venegaonkar said the agency had moved the court seeking issuance of Letters Rogatory (LR) to attach some properties of Naik, which the ED had identified in Malaysia.
Letters Rogatory are formal request from a court in a country to a foreign court for judicial assistance.
The ED moved the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court last week.
Naik is accused of spreading hatred through his provocative speeches, funding terrorists and laundering several crores over the years.
The court had in April issued a non-bailable warrant against Naik in connection with the money laundering case.
The ED had registered a criminal case against Naik and others in December last year after taking cognisance of a complaint by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The ED is looking into the charges of alleged illegal funds laundered by the accused and the subsequent proceeds of crime thus generated. In May this year, NIA sources had said that Naik had applied for Malaysian citizenship.
Naik has been changing his base quite frequently after the NIA moved the Interpol for issuance of a Red Corner Notice (RCN), international arrest warrant, against him, they had said.
It may be recalled that Naik had fled India on July 1, 2016 after a terrorist involved in an attack in Bangladesh cafe last year had said he was “inspired” by his speeches. (AGENCIES)
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