International

India forms 9 probe teams: Zakir Naik may be banned

Following the Centre’s tough stand on Zakir Naik’s controversial comments on terrorism, nine teams from the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) of India, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other agencies are scanning his activities, while special teams are scanning every footage of his speeches.According to sources from the home ministry of India, four teams have been constituted to scan footage and CDs of the speeches and three teams are scanning social sites, while two are monitoring Naik’s Facebook posts.According to initial inquiries, it has been found that Naik’s speeches are provocative, objectionable and so is his writing. Besides, his NGO’s operations have also been branded suspicious, Reports Times of India.It has also been found that the funds sent for his ‘charitable activities’ are being misused and the MHA is also examining his Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) funding clearance and irregularities.Besides his phone calls and emails, sponsors for his foreign trips and meetings are also under the NIA’s scanner. Sources further state Naik may be banned soon and the Centre has sought fresh legal opinion on the matter.According to reports, Naik has kept himself legally safe and he is also said to have the backing of the Saudi royal family.On Saturday, the Centre said Naik’s Peace TV channel is not permitted by the I&B ministry to downlink and warned cable operators that action will be taken for transmitting the channel.