Dawood Ibrahim funded Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundation: Iqbal Kaskar

Iqbal Kaskar was recently arrested in an extortion case.

Mumbai: Iqbal Kaskar, arrested in an extortion case recently, has told the investigating officers that Dawood Ibrahim used to fund Zakir Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF). 

Kaskar, brother of the fugitive don, was arrested on September 18 by the crime branch of the Thane Police.

Earlier in February 2017, Naik's chief financial officer (CFO) Aamir Gazdar had also said that Dawood funded IRF, Zee Media had reported.

Revealing details about funding of Naik's, Gazdar had said that "funding by Dawood used to take place through a mediator, Sultan Ahmed."

The Enforcement Directorate had arrested him on February 16, 2017, for alleged money laundering. 

Meanwhile, Kaskar was taken into custody from his house in Nagpada area in Central Mumbai by a team led by encounter specialist and the anti-extortion cell's senior police inspector Pradeep Sharma.

He was deported from the United Arab Emirates in 2003 and is said to be operating his brother's real estate business in the city.

Kaskar was wanted in a murder case and the Sara Sahara illegal construction case.

However, he was acquitted in both the cases in 2007.

(With Agency inputs)