India should clear my name of false charges: Zakir Naik after Interpol cancels red corner notice against him

India should clear my name of false charges: Zakir Naik after Interpol cancels red corner notice against him

Zakir Naik

FWS - With the news of Interpol's refusal to issue a Red Corner Notice against Zakir Naik, the controversial Islamic preacher in an exclusive video response to India Today, said that he was feeling relieved and wanted Indian government to clear his name of all charges.

"I am feeling relieved as Interpol has cancelled the request of red corner notice against me, but I would feel even more relieved if my country's government and agencies clear me of all false charges. I am sure, the day will come soon," said Naik.

Earlier in the day, in a setback to Indian agencies, the Interpol had refused to issue a red corner notice (RCN) against Dr Zakir Naik .

"A letter has been sent by the Interpol to the lawyer of Dr Zakir Naik informing that the request of Red Corner Notice by Indian agencies against him, has been cancelled due to insufficient evidence," said a close aide of the Islamic preacher.

Meanwhile, the NIA said that it will submit a fresh request to Interpol for red corner notice against Zakir Naik.

NIA's spokesperson Alok Mittal said, "NIA's request for red corner notice against Zakir Naik was not accepted by Interpol as charge sheet had not been filed when the request was submitted to the Interpol headquarters. Now, NIA will submit a fresh request to Interpol as charge sheet has already been filed in the concerned NIA court in Mumbai."

India Today is in possession of the Interpol letter which is dated December 11, 2017.

In a letter to London-based attorney Peter Binning of Corker Binning law firm, which had earlier written to Secretary General of Interpol, France, seeking for a refusal to issue the red corner notice against Naik, the Interpol has said, "After a thorough examination, the commission found that the data challenged raised questions as to compliance with applicable roles. As a result, it considered that the retention of this data in the Interpol information system was not compliant with the Interpol's rules and decided that it should be deleted.

The decision was sent to the Interpol General Secretariat, which deleted the data from Interpol's files in November 2017. The grounds on the basis of which RCN request has been cancelled is insufficient evidence provided by Indian agencies.

The Indian agencies had earlier requested the Interpol to issue a red corner notice in an attempt to extradite Dr Zakir Naik and bring him to India to face the law after being charge-sheeted by the NIA in terror cases.

NAIK CHARGED UNDER UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES PREVENTION ACT

Naik was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Sections 120 (b), 153 (a), 295 (a), 298 and 505 (2) of the Indian Penal Code.

According to reports, Zakir Naik is in Malaysia, which has given him asylum. He fled India on 1st July, 2016 after Bangladesh terror accused admitted to be influenced by his speeches. Later, in November 2016, a case was registered against him and in December 2016, his Mumbai-based NGO IRF was banned by the Union Home Ministry.

The NIA accused Dr Zakir Naik of promoting communal disharmony in the country. Indian youths, who had left the country to join the ISIS, also told Indian agencies that they were highly influenced by Naik's speeches.

Dr Zakir Naik's Peace TV is banned in several countries across the world including the UK and Canada. Now, India is likely to start extradition process soon.

With inputs from Arvind Ojha

# India should clear my name of false charges: Zakir Naik after Interpol cancels red corner notice against him (indiatoday)