Zakir Naik, who lives on donation, gave a big gift to Rajiv trust

Mumbai, Sept 9: Controversial Islamic preacher, Zakir Naik practised what he preached. A man who lives on foreign donations had made a big donation to the Sonia Gandhi headed Rajiv Gandhi Charitable trust in 2011.

An amount of Rs 50 lakh was donated to the trust in 2011 by the Naik run NGO, Islamic Research Foundation.

However, after the Zakir Naik controversy broke out, the trust in July decided to refund the money according to a report in the Tribune.

A decision to refund the donation of Rs 50 lakh was taken in July in a meeting that was chaired by Sonia Gandhi. The RGCT established in 2002 addresses needs of people in the rural areas.

The donation, an unsolicited one, was deposited directly in the trust by cheque in 2011. The donation was followed by the IRF which had written to the trust that the money was to be used for its general fund.

The PAN card details were also enclosed. In the report it is also stated that the trust took an informal decision that it will not have any engagement with the Islamic Research Foundation.

Zakir Naik has been in the eye of the storm after the Dhaka attack. Bangladesh had sought action against Naik after it was found that one of the attackers was inspired by Naik's preachings. India has launched an independent probe into Naik's speeches and also the flow of funds.

The home ministry which ordered this probe had found that funds for Naik came from various parts of the world. Donations had been made from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UK, USA, UAE among other places.

The home ministry has stated now that Naik's trust would require prior permission before it receives foreign funding.

OneIndia News