India will soon be sending a formal request to Malaysia for extradition of Islamic preacher Zakir Naik. The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said the Indian Government is completing its own internal legal process on Naik's extradition from Malaysia.
“Maybe in the next couple of weeks, it will clear what will be the nature of the request,” Raveesh Kumar said.
The MEA statement comes a day after news reports claimed that Naik has sought refuge in Malaysia. Naik has been declared an absconder in India. He has been banned by several countries including the United Kingdom. However, Naik made a public appearance at the Putra Mosque in Malaysia last month. Putra Mosque is where the Malaysian Prime Minister and his Cabinet members often worship.
Media reports quoted Malaysian deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying: “Over the time spent in this country, he (Naik) has not broken any laws or regulations. As such, there is no reason from a legal standpoint to detain or arrest him. The Government has not received any official request from India “related to terrorism allegations involving him”.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 26 charged Naik with inciting youth to take up terror activities, giving hate speeches and promoting enmity between communities.
The NIA had filed 4,000-page chargesheet in a special court in Mumbai against him and said that he promoted hatred between different religious groups in India through his public speeches and lectures. Naik is also being probed under terror and money-laundering charges by the NIA. He fled from India on July 1, 2016, after reports emerged that terror accused in Bangladesh claimed that they were inspired by his speeches. Bangladesh has already suspended the Peace TV channel that airs Naik’s preachings.
Earlier this year, Naik's passport was also revoked by the MEA at the request of the NIA. The NIA issued notices to him thrice under Section 160 of the Code of Criminal Procedure asking him to join the investigation. However, he did not appear before the investigating agency.