Naik's IRF has to seek government nod for foreign funds

The central government has put IRF Educational Trust of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, under prior permission category.

This would prevent the trust from receiving foreign funds without permission from the central government.

In a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said that the IRF Education Trust has violated various provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulations Act (FCRA) 2010.

"The Central Government is satisfied that I.R.F. Education Trust has violated certain provisions of the Act," the notification issued here said.

"Now, therefore, the central government in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 11 of the FCRA 2010, hereby specifies that the IRF Education Trust shall obtain prior permission of the central government on each occasion before accepting any foreign contribution in accordance with the provisions of section 12 of the Act and rules made thereunder," the notification said.

The move comes after the government reportedly found the Islamic preacher to be involved in utilising funds meant for his NGOs for radicalisation of youths, sources said.

Some other organisations, being run by Naik, have also been under the government scanner, they said.

Earlier, the Union Home Ministry had suspended some of its officials for renewing the Islamic Research Foundation's registration under the FCRA.

--IANS

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