Inputs from agencies

More trouble for Zakir Naik as income tax team joins NIA’s raids on his NGO

NEW DELHI: National Investigation Agency teams on Saturday seized incriminating documents and files, electronic storage devices and about Rs.12 lakh in cash during search operations at 12 premises in Mumbai connected to Zakir Naik 's NGO - the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).The recovered documents relate to various activities including financial transactions and property details of Zakir Naik and theIRF.Tightening its noose on the IRF , the Centre today sent an Income Tax team to Mumbai to join the NIA raids on the NGO's premises in the city.In addition to raiding IRF offices, Naik's residence, and the residences of close associates and directors of the IRF, the NIA today also raided the office of Harmony Media Pvt Ltd, which creates content for Peace TV , Naik's TV channel.The NIA also sealed an IRF account in the Development Credit Bank Ltd.'s Dongri Branch, which the NGO uses to pay the salaries of its school staffers and manages other expenses.The raids, which began this morning, will continue till late tonight, and come just two days after the Union Cabinet declared the IRF an "unlawful organisation" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).The raids were conducted after the NIA's Mumbai branch on Friday registered a case against the NGO under a section of the Indian Penal Code (153-A - promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion...and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and several sections of the UAPA.The IRF came under the scanner of various security agencies after one of the terrorists who killed 22 people in a Dhaka cafe earlier this year , allegedly posted on social media that he'd been inspired by Naik's speeches . Some youths from Mumbai suburbs, who left home to join theIslamic State earlier this year, were also allegedly inspired by the Salafist preacher.The Maharashtra Police have also registered criminal cases against Naik for his alleged involvement in the radicalisation of young people and their being lured into terrorist activity.Naik also transferred IRF's foreign funds to Peace TV for making "objectionable" programmes. Most of these programmes, which were made in India, contained alleged hate speeches of Naik, who had reportedly "urged all Muslims to be terrorists" through Peace TV.An educational trust run by Naik has already been barred from receiving foreign funds, and its activities are being investigated.In July, Naik, who currently stays overseas, said he condemned all terrorist attacks, accused the Indian media of "running a trial" based on "unverified reports" against him. He said he wouldn't return to India this year, but also that he wasn't "running away." He didn't even return to attend his father's funeral last month.