04 July,2018 03:00 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Zakir Naik
Zakir Naik, the controversial Islamic preacher who has been staying abroad to evade arrest in various cases in India, on Wednesday said he would not return home till he felt "safe from unfair prosecution".
Naik's statement, issued through his PRO here, came amid reports that he was being deported to India from Malaysia.
"The news of my coming to India is totally baseless and false. I have no plans to come to India till I don't feel safe from unfair prosecution," said Naik in the statement.
He added that he would "surely return to my homeland" when he feels "that the government will be just and fair."
Naik is facing various cases, including for hate speech and money laundering, in India and has been staying abroad to evade arrest.
ALSO READ
Malaysia indicates that India's request on Zakir Naik can be considered if evidence provided
Staffer of Zakir Naik's IRF accused of getting youth to join ISIS acquitted
Govt extends ban on Zakir Naik's IRF for 5 more years
Enforcement Directorate moves court to declare Zakir Naik a fugitive
Narendra Modi did not ask for extradition of Naik, claims Malaysian PM
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had first registered a case against the 51-year-old Naik under aanti-terror laws in 2016 for allegedly promoting enmity between different religious groups The NIA and Mumbai Police, subsequently, had also carried out searches at 10 places in Mumbai including residential premises of some of the office bearers of the foundation run by Naik.
The foundation was earlier put on restricted list by the Home Ministry for receiving funds from abroad.
Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also, download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates
