The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has constituted multiple teams from different agencies to examine the activities and speeches of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. MHA sources said that officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other agencies are also examining the details of Naik’s financial dealings with international NGOs. “Our officials are scanning the video footages and CDs of Naik’s speeches and three teams are scanning social media sites, while two teams are monitoring his Facebook posts,” an MHA official said.
“The examination of his Mumbai-based NGO’s operations have also been found to be suspicious as funds sent for his ‘charitable activities’ are being misused,” the official said. Sources said that there was a very strong possibility that Naik may be banned from preaching for which the Centre has already sought legal opinion. Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government was working very seriously on the issue of Naik. “We have taken cognizance of Zakir Naik’s speeches and necessary instructions have been issued in this regard,” Singh said.