Zakir Naik Had Dealings With Builder Linked to Chhota Rajan, Says NIA

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency has found that controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has underworld connections.

During its investigation into Naik’s funding, NIA found that he had huge business interests with underworld and mafia-supported builders in India and the Middle-East.

It was found that Naik had made huge investments with mafia-supported builder Parvez Khan. Khan has major interests in real estate in Dubai and investigations revealed that he is a front for underworld don Chhota Rajan in the region.

According to the agency, Naik had first invested huge money in 226 villas in a project named Pacific City in Dubai. Later, the entire project was taken over by Zakir Naik and renamed as Peace City. The investigation found that Naik invested in many real estate projects with Khan in Mumbai & Pune as well.

Naik was also found to have invested a large amount of money to build a commercial residential project on the Haji Ismail Haji Alana Sanatorium. The details of the entire investigation has been shared with Enforcement Directorate by the NIA. ED has already registered a case against Naik under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Apart from this, Naik has been found to have several large investments in Mumbai and surrounding areas in Maharashtra.

The NIA probe also found that before the crackdown, Naik also sent a large amount of money to the country using a circuitous route. From his Emirates Bank account in Dubai, Naik used to transfer funds to his Union Bank NRI account in Mumbai. From there, the money was sent to a NRO account in Union Bank.

The said amount was further transferred as gift in the name of his father, the late Abdul Karin Naik, and mother Roshan Naik. Later, it was shown as loan given to Naila Noorani, who in return, transferred the amount to Harmony Media Pvt. Ltd and Long Last Construction Pvt. Ltd.

In all, Naik transferred 52.5 Lakhs UAE Dirham from his Emirates account to Union Bank of India NRI account in seven instalments (Rs 7.5 lakh each instalment) in a period of one and a half years.

Naik’s passport has already been revoked by Ministry of External Affairs on the request of NIA.