Four MHA officials suspended for renewing FCRA licence of Zakir Naik's NGO

Four officials of the Union Home Ministry were on Friday suspended for alleged irregularities in renewing the registration of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik's NGO, Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) last month despite an ongoing probe against him.

The suspended officials include two under secretaries, one section officer and one data entry operator.

According to sources, the licence for Naik's NGO was renewed on August 19 even as the government initiated the inquiry against him and his organisation.

An FCRA license allows an NGO to receive foreign donations.

After the Holey Artisan Cafe in Dhaka was stormed by gunmen in July, Bangladesh had complained to India about Zakir Naik and the IRF. Dhaka had alleged that the IRF and Naik's speeches may have motivated the youth.

As per reports, the Foreigners Division of the Home Ministry was also scrutinising whether IRF had violated any foreign funding norms under FCRA.