NIA raids Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation premises

MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted raids at 10 premises of controversial preacher Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation ( IRF) in Mumbai.

The NIA had registered a case against Zakir Naik and others on Friday under 10,13,18 of UAPA and section 153A of IPC.

The search operations are still under way at IRF premises.

The NIA is being assisted by Mumbai Police in its search operations.

The Union cabinet had approved a proposal to outlaw the IRF on November 15 for its alleged terror activities.

In a gazette notification, the home ministry had said the IRF and its members, particularly, the founder and its president Zakir Naik, has been encouraging and aiding its followers to promote or attempt to promote, on grounds of religion, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious communities.

IRF came on radar of investigative agencies after one of the terrorists in Dhaka attack had allegedly posted on social media that they had been inspired by Naik's speeches.

Youths from Malavani in western suburbs who had left their home to join Islamic State earlier this year were also allegedly inspired by the preaching of the televangelist.

Police had arrested some members of IRF for allegedly motivating and radicalising group youths from Kasargod in Kerala to join ISIS. The case is under investigation of the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Naik is currently out of country apparently to evade arrest, sources said.