Zakir Naik remains defiant, not likely to appear before NIA on March 30 for questioning

New Delhi: Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik may not appear before the National Investigating Agency (NIA) for questioning in connection with a case filed against him under an anti-terror law.

According to ANI, Zakir Naik's lawyer claimed on Wednesday that the NRI televangelist had not received any summons from NIA.

Zakir Naik not likely to appear before NIA on 30th March as he has not received any summons- Zakir Naik's Lawyer. pic.twitter.com/KNtN26M9VB — ANI (@ANI_news) March 22, 2017

The NIA had on Monday issued summons to Naik asking him to appear before it on March 30 for questioning.

The agency had early this month issued the first summons asking him to appear on March 14.

Officials said Naik has been summoned at the National Investigation Agency's headquarters here.

The notice was sent to the Mumbai residence of 51-year-old Naik, who is believed to be staying in Saudi Arabia to evade arrest after his activities came under scanner following accusations that he had inspired some of the terrorists who attacked a cafe in Dhaka last year.

An FIR against Naik and his associates was registered by the NIA in November last year.

The physician-turned-preacher has been booked for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. Sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) have also been slapped on him.

In the FIR, the NIA alleged that Naik incited Muslim youths to commit unlawful and terrorist acts, the official said.

The Centre had declared Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an NGO based at Dongri+ in south Mumbai, an unlawful organisation under the UAPA.

The Delhi High Court had recently upheld the decision to immediately ban IRF saying the organisation and its president and members were indulging in "unlawful activity".

Besides the IRF, Naik is also founding trustee of the IRF Educational Trust and the Islamic Dimensions Trust.

The speeches of Naik are banned in the UK, Canada and Malaysia.

Naik has rejected all allegations of involvement in terror-related activities and opposed ban on the IRF.