Interpol cancels Red Corner notice on televangelist Zakir Naik; NIA to submit fresh request

In a setback to India’s National Investigating Agency (NIA) the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has cancelled red corner notice of televangelist Zakir Naik and instructed its worldwide offices to delete all related files related to him, confirms Naik’s spokesperson.

The INTERPOL has cited political and religious bias among other reasons, said his spokesperson.

Zakir Naik's Spokesperson says "Interpol has cancelled red corner notice on Dr Naik and instructed its worldwide offices to delete all data from files on him, have cited political and religious bias among other reasons"

— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017

Reacting to this, the NIA said that the INTERPOL canceled the request as charge sheet was not filed at the time of lodging the request with the international agency.

On October 26, the NIA had filed a charge sheet in a special court in Mumbai against Zakir Naik for allegedly inciting youth to take up terror activities through speeches.

NIA's request for Red Notice against #ZakirNaik was not accepted by Interpol as chargesheet had not been filed when request was submitted to the Interpol HQ. Will now submit fresh request to Interpol as chargesheet has already been filed in the concerned NIA court in Mumbai: NIA pic.twitter.com/qF32r6cKSV

— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2017

The controversial  Islamic preacher fled India on July 1, 2016, ever since reports of terrorists involved in the Dhaka terror attack confessed that they were inspired by speeches of Zakir Naik.

 

(With PTI inputs)