New Delhi, April 24: India’s request for issuing a so-called red notice against fugitive Indian Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik has finally been heard by of global law enforcement organisation Interpol last week. Naik is wanted in India for money laundering and hate speech. He has also charged for allegedly promoting enmity and hatred between different religious communities.

According to two officials aware of the development related to the case, the Interpol has agreed to issue a red notice against Naik to its 194 member states worldwide. With this notice, Naik’s location and provisional arrest either for prosecution or to serve a sentence could be made possible. In 2016, the 54-year-old religious preacher fled India after terrorists – who killed 22 people in July – stated that they were Naik’s admirers. No Relief to Zakir Naik, ED Attaches Assets Worth Rs 16.40 Crore Under Money Laundering Act

Since then, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has been trying and making requests to the Interpol to issue a red notice against Naik. As per to the last information, the preacher lives in Malaysia, where he has permanent residency.

Though the Indian government had made a request for his extradition, the plea has not been taken seriously by the Malaysian government. In July 2018, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Naik would not be deported as long as he was not creating problems in Malaysia, reports Hindustan Times.

Arguing that Zaik had been was spreading hatred through his speeches, funding terrorists and laundering money over the years, the NIA had made the request with to the global law enforcement organisation, after which finally the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF) met on April 19 to discuss India’s request. It is a five-member independent body that ensures requests from Interpol member states seeking red notices conform to the rules.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 24, 2019 01:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).