Tribunal restrains ED From taking over Dr Zakir Naik’s assets; asks why no action against babas?

News Network
January 10, 2018

New Delhi, Jan 10: After NIA suffered an embarrassment with quashing of its Red Corner Notice request by the Interpol, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday was pulled up by a judicial tribunal over its investigation against peace activist and Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik.

Justice Manmohan Singh, who heads the Appellate Tribunal for PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) at New Delhi, restrained the agency from taking over Dr Naik’s properties attached by the agency, and drew a parallel between Naik and self-styled spiritual leader Asaram Bapu.

"I can name 10 babas who have properties worth more than Re 10,000 crore each and they are facing criminal cases. Have you acted against even one of them? What have you done against Asaram Bapu?" it asked the counsel for the ED.

Raising questions whether ED was being selective in acting against Dr Naik, the Tribuna’s chairman observed that the agency seems to have done nothing in the last 10 years about confiscating properties of Asaram but looked to act a lot quicker in this case.

The central probe agency, in March last year, had attached a school building in Chennai and a warehouse as part of its provisional attachment in the case and it was carried out under the stringent criminal provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

As per the legal scheme under the Act, such an order goes to the Adjudicating Authority for final approval and in case the ED's action is endorsed, the affected party can appeal it before the Appellate Authority of the law.

The Appellate Authority (PMLA), now in a recent order, directed the agency to restrain from taking possession of the said attached immovable assets even as it posed several queries and questioned the agency's action in the case.

Official sources in the ED said the agency will appeal the order of the Appellate Authority or the Tribunal before a High Court and that it was not a "set back" in the case.

Officials said the tribunal order has not "quashed" the attachment but has directed that status quo be maintained. The tribunal, they said, has at the same time not barred the agency "from taking possession" of the movable assets attached in the same order that includes mutual funds worth about Rs. 9.41 crore and five bank accounts containing deposits worth Rs. 1.23 crore in the name of Naik's NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF).

Agency sources said the investigation conducted by the ED officials is independent of the NIA and that it has found that these assets were created by Naik and his associates using alleged "tainted funds".

The Adjudicating Authority had approved the ED order after being satisfied by the investigation, they said, adding this will be a point made in the appeal to the High Court.

The ED is looking into the charges of alleged laundering of illegal funds in the case and the subsequent proceeds of crime thus generated.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had first registered a case against the 51-year-old Naik under antiterrorism laws in 2016 for allegedly promoting enmity between different religious groups.

The NIA and Mumbai Police, subsequently, had also carried out searches at 10 places in Mumbai including residential premises of some of the office bearers of the foundation run by Naik.

The foundation was earlier put on restricted list by the Home Ministry for receiving funds from abroad.

Comments

All officers?. Even the ones who have Muslim names? Or Christian names?.. All of them belong to RSS? Great.

His sayings are based on truth, his speeches based on reality but people like you are not ready to listen or accept the truth. You always want to follow cheater swamis and don't try to know the truth.

zahoor ahmed
 - 
Wednesday, 10 Jan 2018

Dr.Naik speak truth. People like saffron group dislike truth and they want to hide the truth from common people. 

Ganesh
 - 
Wednesday, 10 Jan 2018

Right thing asked. 

Vivek
 - 
Wednesday, 10 Jan 2018

Ban his speeches in India. Only fearless Modi ji can do that. and he will do that soon.

Unknown
 - 
Wednesday, 10 Jan 2018

No news of ZN in these days. Soon he will be behind bars. His speeches are so provocative. Degrading other religions. He should be punished

Sangeeth
 - 
Wednesday, 10 Jan 2018

The main reason behind the enquiry of ZN source of income was terror link and funding.

Yogesh
 - 
Wednesday, 10 Jan 2018

Because babas not involving in terror activities and they dont have any funding from terrorists org

shahid
 - 
Wednesday, 10 Jan 2018

All officers are RSS minded people. thats why they are biased to others. zakir naik is a muslim right

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News Network
April 5,2020

Madikeri, Apr 5: Following the novel Coronavirus and imposition of Lockdown in the country and departure of the migrant labour force to their hometowns, the harvest of Pepper and post-harvest process of Coffee have taken a hit in Kodagu region of Karnataka.

In the Coffee land, most of the workers at these estates are primarily from north Karnataka and neighbouring districts, including Periyapatna and Hunsur taluks in Mysuru District. Local workers are also sourced for the job as the harvest area is large.

The Kodagu district which already faced severe natural calamity during the last two years now added with the COVID-19 outbreak and the subsequent Lockdown, many workers have returned to their home districts, barring a few who have been working in the plantations for many years and reside in the estates themselves.

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News Network
April 15,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 15: Amir-e-Shariat Maulana Sagir Ahmad Khan Rashadi, Maulanaon Wednesday urged people to compulsorily follow the lockdown restrictions during the month of Ramdan.

Ramazan fastings should not be missed without valid reasons. As already mentioned, five namaz of the day should be performed at home and do not go to Mosques.

Taraweeh Namaz should be performed at home along with family members, he said at a meeting of Imarat-e-Sharia leaders held at Darul Uloom Sabilurrashad (Arabic College) in the city.

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News Network
April 24,2020

Riyadh, Apr 24: As many as eleven Indian nationals have died due to COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.

"As per information available with the Embassy as of April 22, eleven Indian nationals (four in Madinah, three in Makkah, two in Jeddah, one in Riyadh and one in Dammam) have passed away due to COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia," the Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia said in a press release on Wednesday.

It urged the Indian community to remain calm and avoid spreading of rumours amid the COVID-19 crisis.

"The Embassy also reiterates the need for the community to remain calm and avoid spreading of rumours that may create panic. It is important that social media is not used to disseminate false messages and spread hatred along communal lines that can vitiate the atmosphere," the Embassy said.

"As stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, COVID-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders before striking, and our response and conduct should attach primacy to unity and brotherhood," it said.

Moreover, several measures on the supply of food, medicines and other emergency assistance to Indians in need are being implemented across the Kingdom.

Earlier, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ausaf Sayeed on April 22 had interacted with Indian community volunteers from the smaller towns all across the Kingdom to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 situation, and evaluate the implementation of various measures to ensure the welfare of Indian nationals.

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