Zakir Naik postpones return to India

Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, whose name cropped up during investigations into the terror attack in Dhaka, has postponed his return to India.
Zakir, 50, the founder of Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) and Peace TV, was in Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia and was to return to Mumbai on Monday afternoon. However, he postponed his return to India.
On Sunday, Bangladesh banned Naik’s controversial Peace TV, saying it incited the recent attack on the Dhaka café that claimed 22 lives, including those of police officers. Two of the attackers were inspired by Zakir’s speeches.
After his name cropped up, the Ministry of Home Affairs took cognisance of the issue and even Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis



asked Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar to probe into Zakir Naik’s speeches and also his contacts and source of funding.
The Special Branch of the Mumbai Police is probing the matter even as the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) of Maharashtra Police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) are keeping a hawk-eyed vigil.
Over Sunday and Monday morning, there were reports that Zakir and some prominent citizens would address a news conference at a five-star hotel on Tuesday on his return; however, it has been hurriedly cancelled.
“He is not returning on Monday, he has postponed his return,” sources said, adding that he was going ahead with his scheduled lecture tour in the United Arab Emirates and Africa.