Zakir Naik's NGO has one financial anomaly

Mumbai, Aug 31: There has been just one anomaly found in the FCRA registered accounts of the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an NGO run by the controversial Dr Zakir Naik. After scanning all the accounts it was found that just one donation of Rs 93 lakh from Dubai was not accounted for.

Several donations made to the IRF were scanned by the officials in the Ministry for Home Affairs. The IRF has filed all the FCRA returns in the prescribed format. Officials say that all but one contribution has been accounted for. However, the one donation from Dubai is still being probed as it has not been accounted for, the official also noted.

The IRF has received foreign funds up to Rs 10 crore in the past 10 years. Most of the donation have come from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. There have been donations made to the NGO by individuals as well from Singapore, US, UK, Kuwait and Qatar as well.

Home Ministry to take a call

Home Ministry officials tell OneIndia that they are examining the case relating to Naik. His name had cropped up after one of the Dhaka Cafe attackers had said on his Facebook page that it was Naik's speeches that had inspired him.

The National Investigation Agency was tasked with probing all his speeches and a report to this effect was submitted to the home ministry.

The Home Ministry is studying this report and is yet to take a call on whether to book Naik from the provisions of an anti-terror law. A decision to ban the IRF under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act or the UAPA is also under consideration.

Home Ministry officials say that they do not want to jump the gun on this issue and will seek legal opinion before taking a considered decision.

OneIndia News