Zakir Naik’s passport has been revoked, says NIA officials

The officials of the probe agency said the travel document was revoked by the Regional Passport Office of Mumbai after 51-year-old Naik failed to respond to a show cause notice issued to him for personal appearance by July 13.

The notice was served asking Mr. Naik why his passport should not be revoked in view of various investigations pending against him, they said.

He is being probed for terror and money laundering charges by the NIA. He fled from India on July 1, 2016, after terrorists in neighbouring Bangladesh claimed that they were inspired by his speeches on waging jihad.

According to ‘Middle East Monitor’, an online news portal on developments in Middle East, Mr. Naik has already been granted citizenship of Saudi Arabia. There was no independent verification to this so far.

Mr. Naik had his passport



renewed in January last year and it has a validity for 10 years.

The NIA, on November 18, 2016, had registered a criminal case against Mr. Naik at its Mumbai branch under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

His organisation, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), has already been declared as an unlawful association by the government a day prior to registering of the case.

The controversial preacher is accused of spreading hatred by his provocative speeches, funding terrorists and laundering several crores of rupees over the years.

The sources could not give the exact country where Mr. Naik could be at present and said that he may be changing his base quite frequently after the NIA moved the Interpol for issuance of a Red Corner Notice (RCN), international arrest warrant, against him.