India-based preacher Zakir Naik India-based preacher Zakir Naik

AS PART of its probe into the use of foreign funds by the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an NGO run by controversial Islamic preacher and Mumbai-based televangelist Zakir Naik, the home ministry has found that IRF received around Rs 15 crore in foreign funding in the four years till 2012, sources said.

Home ministry sources said the funds were received mainly from UK, Saudi Arabia and other Middle-East countries.

The Centre had ordered a probe into IRF’s funding, after Naik’s speeches came under the scanner in the wake of reports that one of the terrorists who carried out the attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, was inspired by him. The terrorist had quoted Naik in a Facebook post last year.

WATCH VIDEO: Dhaka Attack: Zakir Naik Says He Did Not Influence Anyone

The home ministry is probing allegations that funds received by the NGO from abroad have been spent on political activities and “attracting” youth towards terror. All such activities are contrary to the provisions of the FCRA, under which the NGO is registered, and any violation invites punitive action.

“We are going through the accounts of IRF, and have found that it received roughly Rs 15 crore in four years, till 2012. We are scrutinising what these funds were used for, and whether any FCRA norms were violated by using foreign funds for purposes other than those stated by it and permitted,” said an MHA official.

“However, it is also necessary to enquire with Naik himself to ascertain exactly how the foreign funds were used and for what purposes,” the official added.

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Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that CDs of Naik’s speeches are being examined. Naik had said: “I totally disagree that I inspired this act of killing innocent people. There is not a single talk of mine where I encouraged one to kill another, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.”

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