New Delhi
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court dismissed the plea of fugitive preacher Zakir Naik, who sought to combine several hate speech cases filed against him. The bench, led by Justice Abhay S. Oka, allowed Naik to withdraw his 2013 petition but stated he could pursue the matter in a different forum.
During a previous hearing, the Maharashtra government argued against considering Naik’s request. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta emphasized that a fugitive cannot maintain a petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. He pointed out that Naik’s petition had defects that prevented the state from filing a counter affidavit.
The court had allowed the state to submit a counter affidavit before the next hearing and instructed Naik’s lawyer to confirm whether he wanted to continue with the petition or withdraw it.
Zakir Naik, a controversial figure, is wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for promoting religious hatred and other illegal activities. Following a deadly attack in Dhaka in 2017, which authorities claimed was inspired by him, he has been living in Malaysia, where he operates his organization, including the Dubai-based Peace TV. In 2021, the Indian government designated his Islamic Research Foundation as an unlawful association due to its activities deemed harmful to India’s unity and security. Naik is also facing charges of terror financing, hate speech, and money laundering.
