Monitoring Desk: Famous Indian Islamic preacher and owner of Peace TV Channel is in real trouble as Enforcement Directorate (ED) of Mumbai on Monday seized and sealed his known assets worth over 18 Crore Indian rupees.
According to Indian media, total amount received by Zakir Naik through foreign funding is over 300 crore Indian rupees.
“His all known properties have been seized, sealed and attached”, said ED spokesman.
Zakir is under investigation for funding terrorism and currently residing in Saudi Arabia. ED claims that United Kingdom was base camp for money laundering process.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed that Zakir Naik is wanted in money laundering and funding terrorism cases. His known assets have been seized to ensure his appearance to law enforcing authorities, said ED authorities.
ED authorities have already recorded the statement of his sister Nailah Noorani in money laundering case registered by the central agency against Zakir Naik.
According to ED authorities Nailah Noorani was interrogated for five hours because she is the director of Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).
She is also owner of two companies those were receiving foreign contribution, mostly from Middle Eastern countries.
According to sources, Noorani received Rs 25 crore from her parents in her accounts held with UBI and Development Credit Bank – Rs 50,000 each was deposited in Majestic Perfumes Pvt Ltd and Alpha Lubricants Pvt Ltd; Rs 11.57 crore in Longlast Construction Pvt Ltd, Rs 9.30 crore in Harmony Media Pvt Ltd. Sometime between 2009 and 2010, over Rs 6 crore was transferred from IRF account to Longlast Construction Pvt Ltd, one of the six alleged shell companies floated by Naik. In the same period, Longlast Construction, in which Naik was a director till March 2013, bought a land parcel in Byculla in South Mumbai. This land was bought to build the Islamic International School, Mumbai branch, which is operating from a rented premises.
Sources claim that Naik made his sister Noorani and his close aide Abdul Amir Gazdar directors of Longlast Constructions. Gazdar, a marble trader by profession, was arrested last month by the ED for allegedly handling Gazdar’s cash and real estate transaction worth Rs 200 crore.
The ED registered a money laundering case against Naik and the IRF in December last year under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) has been filed following the FIR registered under certain sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
