Agencies desperate to stick some charge on me, claims Zakir Naik
Mumbai: Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, booked by the Enforcement Directorate for money laundering, Tuesday claimed investigating agencies were "desperately" trying to get "something to stick on him" on the instructions of their "political bosses".
Naik levelled the allegation in response to the ED trying to get a Red Corner Notice issued against him.
In a statement issued here, Naik asked "why are the Indian agencies getting so desperate? Desperate to comply with the instructions of their political bosses?"
"It surely cannot be a desperation to serve justice because theyre not sure of the charges themselves. But this desperation is shameful, and it shows in the way they keep shifting focus from one angle to another, from terror to money laundering, just to make something stick on me," his statement added.
"If the Supreme Court of India gives me in writing that I will not be arrested and jailed until I am convicted, I will return to India, and I will return today," he said.
Naik, reportedly in Malaysia, further claimed he was trying to clear his name from the "fictitious charges by Indian agencies", adding that investigating agencies were continuing an exercise "steeped in injustice and unfairness".
"The objective of all their actions seems to be to put me behind bars without trial and without hearing," he alleged.
Naik claimed that despite failing twice to get a RCN issued against him, the agencies were "trying their luck" with money laundering allegations against him.
"Interpol refused to accept the Indian government's charges against me on two different occasions in the last two years, and I don't see that stance changing," he said.
The first time was two years ago, but it was cancelled by Interpol soon after, as the Indian government failed to produce charges and evidences, it said.
The second time was in late 2017 when the government submitted a charge sheet to the Interpol, the statement said.
"It has been more than a year and despite pressure from the Indian government, the Interpol hasn't issued an RCN.
Now, the agencies are trying their luck with money laundering to get the Interpol to issue an RCN," he said.
"Fortunately for me, Interpol is not driven by Indian politics. Somehow they are not convinced about my crime the way Indian agencies have been claiming," Naik added.
He claimed he had offered to be interrogated several times since his organisation, IRF, was banned in 2016.
Last month, the ED filed a charge sheet against Naik on charges of laundering criminal money to the tune of Rs 193 crore and creating illegal real estate assets in India and abroad.
It has, so far, arrested Amir Gazdar and Najamuddin Sathak, aides of Naik.
Naik was booked by the ED in 2016 based on a National Investigation Agency (NIA) FIR that was registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
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West Asia crisis: MEA establishes control room to assist Indians
New Delhi (PTI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has set up a control room to assist those affected by the escalating crisis in West Asia.
The MEA has said almost one crore Indian citizens live in West Asia and their safety and well-being is of "utmost priority" for New Delhi.
As the Iran-US conflict widened, the Indian embassy in Iran moved hundreds of Indian students from the Iranian capital of Tehran to safer locations.
"A Control Room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region," the MEA said on Wednesday.
"The Control Room can be contacted from 9 am to 9 pm at: 1800118797 (Toll Free) +91 11 2301 2113, +91 11 2301 4104, +91 11 2301 7905," it added.
The US launched military strikes on Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Following the military offensive, Iran has carried out a wave of attacks mainly targeting Israel and American military bases in several Gulf countries, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
The MEA on Tuesday noted that almost one crore Indian citizens live and work in the Gulf region, and their "safety and well-being is of utmost priority."
"We cannot be impervious to any development that negatively affects them," it said.
The MEA said New Delhi will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and take relevant decisions in the national interest, adding it is in touch with the governments in the region as well as other key partners.
A Special Control Room has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs in view of the current situation in West Asia and the Gulf region. Details are as below ⬇️
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) March 4, 2026
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