Zakir Naik’s Plea to depose through Skype

Mumbai: Islamic tele-evangelist Zakir Naik, who runs the Islamic Research Foundation, has informed the Enforcement Directorate that he is ready to issue his statement in connection with the case against him through video-conferencing.

He sent a letter through his lawyer stating that as an NRI, I did not receive any summons from the ED and it is unlawful to sent summons to his brother and asking him to present himself before the ED on February 9. In his response filed through his lawyer, Naik claimed that he faces a extremely hostile atmosphere in India and asked the ED for a few months time to return to the country. Naik has also requested the agency to put the probe on hold until the tribunal decides whether the government-imposed ban on the IRF is legal or not. The government had banned the IRF under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

Naik has been based in Saudi Arabia and put off travel plans to visit India fearing arrest by security agencies after the Dhaka attack.