Zakir Naik's aide arrested, to provide more leads into investigation

Mumbai, July 22: The arrest of Arshi Qureshi in Navi Mumbai is expected to provide more leads into the functioning of the Islamic Research Foundation founded by the controversial Islamic preacher, Dr Zakir Naik.

In a joint operation the Kerala and Mumbai Police arrested Qureshi from his residence in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.

The case on hand relates to an allegation that Qureshi had radicalised a girl from Kerala who is suspected to have joined the ISIS. The Kerala Police which obtained Qureshi's transit remand will now question him about his alleged role in the case.

A Kerala Police officer informed that his questioning will commence on Friday and this will help us get more leads apart from understanding the functioning of the Islamic Research Foundation.

How the investigation is proceeding

The Kerala Police acted on a complaint given by Ebin Jacob. He is the brother of Mariam, who is one of the 21 people from Kerala who have been reported missing and suspected to have joined the ISIS.

Mariam had moved to Navi Mumbai after getting married to Yahya. It is there that she is suspected to have been radicalised, the police have learnt.

It is alleged that Mariam's husband and Qureshi had taken her to meet Dr Naik. It is there that the radicalisation is alleged to have taken place, the police have learnt.

Further the complainant Jacob also told the police that an attempt to radicalise him too had been made by Yahya and Qureshi. "I too was taken to meet with Zakir Naik," he claimed in the complaint.

Naik is currently not in India and recently said in a media interaction through video conferencing that he is innocent. His name had cropped up after the Bangladesh police alleged that one of the Dhaka attackers had been radicalised by him and a post of his was found on the social media account of the terrorist.

OneIndia News