NIA Court attaches 5 properties belonging to Zakir Naik

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai has ordered the attachment of five properties of controversial Islamic preacher - Zakir Naik, in connection with the alleged unlawful activities of his banned NGO, Islamic Research Foundation in 2016.

The NIA Court ordered for the attachment of the five properties (two flats in Jasmin Apartments, two in Maria Heights and a shop in Crystal Residency, located in Mazgaon area of Mumbai) on October 11.

Owing to a pending non-bailable warrant against Naik, the NIA had made a request to the court to declare him 'Proclaimed Offender', with the court issuing a proclamation under section 82 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) against him on June 15, 2017.

Subsequently, the NIA had sought an order from the court to attach the properties of the televangelist.

Naik is facing probe both in India and Bangladesh after two suspects in the terror attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka in July 2016, claimed that they were inspired by Naik's radical preaching. The two were staunch followers of Naik on Facebook and on the Peace Television Channel. The terror attack had left 22 people dead.

The 52-year-old currently holds a permanent residence status in Malaysia, which was confirmed last year by then-Malaysian deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.