Naik had approached the court seeking the 'status' of investigations initiated against him by the Enforcement Directorate and the National Investigation Agency.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rejected a petition filed by controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, saying that he did not participate in any investigation. Naik is accused of inciting communal disharmony and committing unlawful activities.
Naik had approached the court seeking the 'status' of investigations initiated against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). In the petition, Naik also sought direction to the Ministry of External Affairs to cancel the revocation of his passport.
The court said it cannot pass any order pertaining to revocation of passport and asked Naik to file a separate petition for the same.
"Regarding the other reliefs sought in the petition...we do not see how this court can consider them when the petitioner has not even presented himself before the probe agencies. The petitioner is ensconced in Malaysia and is seeking a direction to the agencies to submit probe reports," the court said in its order.
A division bench of Justice RM Sawant and Justice Revati Mohite Dhere said no relief can be granted to an absconding accused who was not participating in the investigations or showing any desire to help the probe agencies.
He is accused of giving provocative speeches, which were cited as a reason by Bangladesh for an attack in Dhaka, which left 22 people dead. Naik's NGO — Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) — has also been declared unlawful since 2016 and is being probed by the ED over allegations of money laundering to the tune of more than Rs 18 crore.
Following which, Naik has reportedly shifted to Malaysia.
Advocate Hiten Venegaonkar, appearing for the agency, said, "The court, after considering our opposition and the fact that the accused is not, cooperating in the probe, rejected the petition."
-With inputs from agencies
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Zakir Naik")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}