Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has cancelled his return from Saudi Arabia to Mumbai of India.
Zakir Naik was supposed to come back to Mumbai from Saudi Arabia on Monday morning.
He may issue a clarification through video conferencing over the recent issues, Hindustan Times reported quoting police sources.
Naik has come under the scanner of the Indian government after reports emerged that two among a group of terrorists, who killed 22 people in a posh Dhaka café last week, were allegedly inspired by his speeches.
On Sunday, Bangladesh banned Naik’s controversial Peace TV, claiming it incited the recent attack on the Dhaka café.
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However, there is no substantial evidence that suggests that Naik or his sermons indoctrinated, influenced or radicalised any of the youths wanted or arrested for terrorism.
His name first cropped in 2002-2003 amid a series of blasts in Mumbai and led Mumbai crime branch to Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) that Naik founded and serves as its president.
Naik was questioned extensively but Mumbai Police could not gather any evidence that linked him to any act of terrorism.
“But since then Naik has been under continuous surveillance of the intelligence units and agencies,” a senior IPS officer who questioned Naik, said.
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“There is little possibility that Naik would try to influence youths using a public platform like Peace TV. What is of question is, if Naik met any of the youth, who joined ISIS or any other terrorist organisation, behind closed doors,” he added.
It comes in the backdrop of claims from the parents of two brothers from Kerala, who converted to Islam, that they had travelled to Mumbai and met Naik on more than one occasion. The brothers are among 20 missing youth from the state who travelled to the Middle East, and are suspected of joining the Islamic State (IS).
Mumbai police sources said that the special team constituted to probe Naik has gathered details about his properties, funding and other activities and is expected to question the preacher.
Apart from monitoring social networking websites, police officials led by former special director of the Intelligence Bureau and now Mumbai Police Commissioner DD Padsalgikar are sifting through interrogation reports of various accused to see if any of them were influenced by Naik’s speeches, or had met him in person.
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